Because of malaria, many kids are unable to attend school and lose several days of school attendance each year. This affects their learning and places them at a disadvantage each year. Being sick from malaria also places a strain on family resources, time and income. Families also do not know how to care for and use their mosquito nets to ensure maximum benefit.
Malaria is the most prevalent disease in Africa, especially in Cameroon. It is also preventable, treatable and curable. Malaria is a leading cause of absenteeism in the school. This affects the performance of the pupils and the school as a whole. Pupils who do not suffer from malaria are less likely to miss school. When kids are sick with malaria, the families end up spending their meager resources on treatment.
Sleeping under a net is the most cost-effective way to prevent malaria. Funds from the project will provide 1,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to children and the most vulnerable groups in the community. These include HIV positive children and adults, pregnant women, older adults, and people infected with tuberculosis. Education on prevention of malaria and use of nets will also be provided.
Promoting mosquito net use will help keep students malaria-free. This will also result in better health for mothers, people living with HIV and groups most vulnerable to malaria. The school attendance of healthier children is excellent and they learn better. With better knowledge about prevention, malaria deaths can be reduced to zero. In the long term, the community will be stronger and more self-reliant.