This post is by Benni McCarthy, footballer and ONE member.
As a young man growing up in Cape Town, I dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and representing South Africa. But too many of our brothers and sisters across Africa are unable to realise their dreams due to the scourge of preventable and treatable diseases.
Diseases such as AIDS, TB, and malaria continue to kill more than 2 million people in Africa every year, whilst every day 2,000 children on our continent die from diarrhoea.
This just isn’t right.
Join me and call on our leaders to open their budgets and keep their promises on health spending.
The petition reads:
Dear African Leaders,
AIDS, TB, and malaria are all preventable and treatable, yet together they still kill more than 2 million Africans each year. Please open your budgets and keep your promises on health spending, so that these deaths can be avoided.
When we all know how our taxes are spent, we will be one step closer to solving our greatest health problems.
On the football pitch I let my feet do the talking, but once the match is over I use my voice to make a difference.
But your voice is even more powerful. Alone we may go unheard, but if we stand together, our leaders can’t ignore us.
With your help we can open budgets and save lives.
Take 30 seconds to sign the petition, and share it with your friends and family.