In the Sokoru District, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia, the Fayyaa Integrated Development Association (FIDA), a non-governmental organization supported by the President’s Malaria Initiative’s Malaria Communities Program, is working to educate the local community on early diagnosis and treatment of malaria, and to mobilize the community to implement malaria prevention and control efforts. Since 2005 under the PMI more than 20 million insecticide-treated bed nets have been distributed in Ethiopia, but their impact has been compromised by low net usage or improper use.
Mrs. Rawuda, a mother of three and one of nearly 95,600 local people who have participated in local training and education on malaria prevention through FIDA, explained: “Even though I had a bed net at home, I and my children were not using it because I did not believe that sleeping under the net would protect us from being infected by malaria. Now that I have learned about the use of nets, my children and I started to use it correctly and consistently.”
FIDA also works to increase acceptance in the communities of Indoor Residual Spraying. In the past, getting consent has been difficult, but this year the intensive community education program has resulted in increased IRS coverage.
U.S. foreign assistance is typically not a hot topic for debate in the political arena. But Americans should be proud of their genorisity because it translates into things of beauty on the ground in Africa. And Senegal should be proud of the strides it has made against malaria and other diseases.
During my stay here in Senegal, I was able to visit three health huts that have been funded by USAID and The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). Across Senegal, there are around 9000 health huts that are staffed by people from the local community. Each health hut serves a varying number of people, but the ones I visited serve around 1200 local Senegalese.
These health huts provide maternal and newborn child health services, malaria diagnosis and treatment as well as clean water solutions. Each of these areas are immensely critical.
The health huts are not much more than two of three rooms, but hidden in these small buildings are amazing story of success and ultimately, genorisity, both by the local people and the United States.
While visiting these huts I noticed hand written charts hanging on the walls. These were in French and I asked what they were tracking. “Malaria rates.” was the answer. In 2009, they were seeing dozens of cases and before that there were even more.
But in 2010, over the past four months, each of these huts showed zero malaria cases. This reduction occurred after a bednet distribution campaign and the public awareness campaign “Xeex Sibbiru.”
This is what its all about. Americans are giving to people they have never met and will most likely never know and in Senegal, local individuals are volunteering their time, for free, to staff these huts and provide health services to their neighbors Even when there are several other pressing concerns on a volunteer health workers time, they still work to serve their community.
Ultimately, its a tale of compassion. Compassion for those in need and compassion for ones neighbor. Together the compassion of the American people and the Senegalese people is writing a story that includes the end of malaria in Senegal.
I’ve been working for Malaria No More for just over a year and a half and have loved the cause every step of the way. For me, investing in the fight against malaria just makes sense. Theres been demonstrated return on investment, economic benefits and lives saved. Quite simply, the statistics made a powerful case to me. Perhaps most compelling, we can end malaria deaths by 2015, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
There is, however, a difference between knowing and seeing.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to Dakar, Senegal and I’ve just been amazed by everything I see. The people are extraordinarily friendly (especially to someone who doesn’t speak any French or Wolof) and Dakar is a gorgeous city, situated right on the water. Dakar is also one of the most fitness oriented cities I have ever seen, every day hundreds and perhaps thousands of people gather on the beach to run, workout and stay in shape.
Beyond my wonder at this new, incredible place, is the shadow of malaria.
During my time in Senegal, I saw two women being treated intravenously to defeat their malaria infection. Both women were adults and should survive with their treatment, but the energy had just been sucked right out of them before my eyes.
Despite being familiar with malaria issues, when I stepped off of the plane, I didnt feel any more vulnerable to a crippling disease, nor did any sort of warning constantly come to my mind. But the evidence was there for me to see.
But despite the tenacious nature of malaria, success in Senegal has been wide spread. Last year the government began a distribution of 2 million bednets for children under 5. Youssou N’Dour launched his Xeex Sibbiru Song Contest campaign in order to raise awareness about malaria and the results are amazing to behold.
I saw health huts, rapid diagnostic tests, bednets and drug treatments that becoming more and more widely available. All of these treatments and the support of organizations like USAID, The President’s Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund are rolling that shadow back. Morning is coming in Senegal, as long as we keep up our support.
USAID has just wrapped up a tour of counties in Liberia highlighting their work to end malaria. In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, USAID has been working aggressively to fight the disease.
As part of the program, the Traditional Council gowned the USAID representative, as well as the Chief of Party of the Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS) program, Richard Brennan.
The honor, Karwa said, was bestowed on them because of the commitment and respect shown to traditional leaders during the tour of the counties.
“We are very pleased to award our sons due to their hard work, commitment and respect for traditional people during the campaign. We hope they continue as we embark on the remaining ten counties,” Chief Karwa stated.
In response, the honorees thanked the traditional leaders for the honor and promised to continue to work closely with them to address the issue of malaria in Liberia.
It is vitally important that the U.S. government continues to adequately fund the malaria programs at USAID so that one day nations like Liberia can hear about malaria only in history books.
The U.S. Government recently announced over $10.5 million in grants through the President’s Malaria Initiative and its parent department, The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The grants would go to seven organizations working in six separate countries in Africa to extend malaria prevention and control.
The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative and are going to target communities most affected by the disease, with a particular focus on children under 5 and pregnant women.
“I am committed to expanding the work of nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, and other community-based entities to reach people with the tools and knowledge to control malaria,” said Admiral (Retired) Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “The key to saving lives, especially children, is to expand proven approaches and interventions until they reach each and every child who needs them.”
The Grantees include: HealthRight International in Kenya, Merlin in Kenya, Episcopal Relief and Development/Nets for Life in Ghana, The Aga Khan Foundation in Mozambique, Lutheran World Relief in Mali, Catholic Medical Mission Board in Zambia and Medical Teams International in Uganda.
The Policy Center team happened to be in Tanzania at the same time as the Director of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Admiral Tim Ziemer and his communications director, Chris Thomas. The PMI team was on site for a bed net distribution and we caught up with Chris to hear more:
Tanzania is currently implementing an Under Five Coverage Campaign (U5CCC), a free net distribution for all children from zero to five years of age. The campaign is being jointly funded by the GFATM, the World Bank, PMI and Malaria No More. On Saturday, July 11, a team from PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Lehrer visited free Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) a distribution point to households for each child under five years of age in the Mwanza region in the Lake zone of Tanzania.
The U5CC will be followed by a Universal Coverage Campaign (UCC) in early 2010. The UCC will distribute an additional 14.6 million LLINs, with the aim of reaching the target of 2.5 LLINs per household. PMI/Tanzania will contribute 1 million nets toward the UCC, targeting the Kagera region that has the highest malaria prevalence in Tanzania.
There are five contractors managing the U5CC and net-retreatment. A2Z is responsible for supply of LLINs and delivering them to the villages. MEDA is responsible for the logistics. World Vision is responsible for the registration and training of VEOs and WEOs, PSI is responsible for community mobilization, and Campaign International is managing the net-retreatment. PMI/Tanzania, on top of providing 1 million LLINs and funds for operations of the exercise, will also fund the hung-up campaign to ensure that people sleep under nets they have received during the campaign.
Below are some videos Chris took while in Tanzania.
