Master KG. Photo: Twitter
AfricaRise2020 “The Big Event” to raise money for healthcare in Africa, featuring a free three-hour virtual entertainment event with musical performances headlined by Master KG of “Jerusalema” fame and several other personalities, and Viacom as media partner, has been moved from Dec. 5, 2020 to January 16, 2021, the organizers announced today.
The new date allows organizers to accommodate the overwhelming number of artists who have asked to be a part of the fundraising event to be broadcast by Viacom. The new date also coincides with Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, another occasion for celebration.
In addition to musicians, sports personalities, world leaders, prominent public figures, and healthcare workers from all parts of the world will deliver inspiring messages—all promoting fundraising to purchase mobile clinics, and for upgrading the fragile healthcare infrastructure in rural Africa. People in rural Africa are the most adversely impacted—some people, including women and children, walk more than 10 miles to access healthcare services.
“We knew that Africans would rise to the occasion and support this worthy cause when we planned it,” says Gordon Tapper, founder of Give Them A Hand Foundation, president of the United African Congress, and executive producer of “The Big Event” to be broadcast by Viacom. “But I must say we were still surprised by the number of artists, sports figures, and other personalities who’ve asked to be a part of this great event.”
Other artists that have already committed to perform include: Mac Mudday, Makhadzi, Nomcebo Zikode, Zanda Zakuza, Ella Efundem Njie, and Grammy-winning musician and environmentalist Ricky Kej, from India.
Tapper says AfricaRise2020 “The Big Event” which will be broadcast by Viacom will be an annual event in order to have significant impact in addressing the healthcare challenges that most African countries face. Limited healthcare resources were already taxed in many African countries when pandemics such as ebola and the current coronavirus outbreak, added pressure on healthcare systems in Africa.
The demand for resources for healthcare systems in Africa are borne by the stark statistics: an average of only 1 doctor per 10,000 people; only 40 nurses and midwives per 10,000 persons; and, about 10 hospital beds per 1,000 people.
“Access to healthcare is essential for all people, to reduce maternal and infant deaths and also deaths from water-borne, and vector-borne diseases. I cannot tell you how much I’m elated not only by the support of all the artists but also for the media partnership with Viacom,” Tapper says. “We welcome more partners and sponsors. Even though the Big Event won’t be until January 16, the website is now operational and we are accepting donations. The money goes toward purchasing and equipping mobile clinics, upgrading or building district health centers in underserved communities, and providing up-to-date technology for diagnostic testing and facilitating telemedicine.”
The event’s website is www.africarise2020.com
The event’s co-sponsors are: United African Congress, Give Them A Hand Foundation, Black Star News, International Association of Applied Psychology, and Earth Rights Institute.
“The Big Event” which will be broadcast by Viacom has also been endorsed by: several African ambassadors to the United States, including H.E. Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States; H.E. Mahamadou Nimaga, Ambassador of Mali to the United States; and, Dr. Mmamontsheng Dulcy Rakumakoe, CEO of the QuadCare Medical Centers in South Africa.
Follow https://africarise2020.com, Twitter @Africaris_2020
