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According to a study from a leading University in London it is estimated that malaria deaths could more than double in 2020 compared with 2019 if the distribution of 228 million mosquito nets, for sub-Sahara Africa, is disrupted.
It is imperative to put measures in place now to reduce the burden on health systems as COVID-19 cases increase in Zambia.
The Butterfly Tree is committed to supporting the fight against malaria and is currently doing an appeal to raise more funding for mosquito nets in schools. The World Health Organisation states that more pregnant women and children are protected from malaria, but these are mainly children under five. What we have learnt from working with local enviromental health technicians is that school age children often get left out.
For the past three years our 'mosquito nets for schools' initiative has proved to be successful. Each pupils and teacher take ownership of a mosquito net. Where the project has been implemented evaluation has shown that the number of new cases of malaria has been considerably reduced.
A recent donation will enable us to provide mosquito nets for schools in Moomba Chiefdom in the Kazungula District of Zambia. Moomba is a very remote area and a several hour drive, mostly off-road, from Livingstone. In addition, we aim to paint the dwellings in Moomba with a safe insecticidal coating, which lasts for two years, and place larvicide granules in ponds and streams to prevent larva developing into mosquito.
Working with the Ministry of Health in Zambia priority will be given to areas with the highest prevalence of malaria. A mosquito net costs just $8 and could save a child's life.
April 25th marked World Malaria Day. This year the World Health Organisation, with seleced partners, is promoting a grassroots campaign called ‘Zero malaria starts with me.‘
The Butterfly Tree has been providing support to Zambia for malaria prevention since 2007, offering interventions that are proving to reduce the number of cases of malaria and helping to save lives.
With the current COVID-19 global pandemic malaria must not be overlooked. In 2018 there were an estimated 228 million cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths, down from 416,000 in 2017, showing that interventions are working. Sadly, 67% of deaths were children under the age of five.
Thanks to the tremendous support we have received The Butterfly Tree now has now has malaria prevention programmes in Mukuni, Nyawa, Sekute and Moomba Chiefdoms, in the Kazungula District of Southern Province. Universal coverage is provided with the use of mosquito nets, a safe insecticidal coating, which is painted inside dwellings, and larvicide. The latter when placed in ponds and streams prevents larva from developing into mosquitos.
Our ‘mosquito nets for schools' programme is helping to provide protection for children above five years, as this age group rarely get selected bu the Ministry of Heaslth as priority is given to pregnant women and under-fives. Every pupils and teacher is given a mosquito net and takes ownership, and monitoring takes place in order to track new cases of malaria.To date we have donated nets to thousands of children at River View, Sikaunzwe, Kauwe, Kamwi, Chuunga and Mambova Schools, this has considerabley reduced the number of malaria cases. Three more schools have recently been covered - Bunsanga, Chilaba and Malimba
We are delighted to have been selected for the second year running by a national women's group in the UK as one of their two charities of the year for 2020-21.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this vital programme.
ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION THERE WERE:
The rainy season in Zambia is underway, which provides much needed respite from the severe drought that has been affecting the Western, Southern and parts of the Eastern Provinces. Rivers and streams are filling up, providing a source of water for communities and animals. Unfortunately, this is also the start of the malaria season.
During the past few months The Butterfly Tree has continued to increase the support in schools so that children are protected from malaria. Our 'mosquito nets for schools' has expanded and the following schools have each received a full allocation. Mambova Junior Secondary and Chuunga and Kamwi Primary Schools. Each pupil and teacher take ownership of the net to prevent contracting malaria. Records are kept at the school and we monitor the programme to see if there has been any absenteeism from school as a result of malaria.
The previous three schools, River View, Sikaunzwe and Kawewa, that have recieived a donation have not reported any cases of malaria since receiving our support.
Last month, we provided advanced protection for an area called Singwamba in Nyawa Chiefdom. The region has one of the highest prevelances of malaria in the Kazungula District. A team of local people, supervised by The Butterfly Tree's volunteer Environmental Officer, applied safe insecticidal coating to 364 dwellings. This should provide protection for up to two years.
In addition every pond, stream and areas of stagnant water were treated with a safe larvicide, which prohibits the larva from developing into mosquitos. Both products are harmless to humans and dwellings.
The World Health Organisation states that 70% of the world's malaria cases are concentrated in just 11 countries, Zambia is not included in this list. This proves that Zambia is making progess in helping to eliminate malaria. We will continue to raise funds and awareness, and would like to thank everyone who has supported this project.
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Despite the severe drought in the Southern and Western Provinces of Zambia, mosquitos continue to plague the communities. September and October, the months prior to the rainy season, is the time to provide internventions to help prevent people from contracting malaria.
Thanks to recent donations we have been able to include more schools in our 'mosquito nets for schools' programme. Mambova School, situated next to the mighty Zambezi River, received the latest donation at the start of the month.
Our next target is the Ngwezi Zone in Musokotwane Cheifdom. The area has a high prevalence of malaria, is very remote and becomes inaccessible during the rainy season. The inside of dwellings will be painted with our safe insectidal coating, which has proved to be highly successful n other areas, and larvicide will be placed where there is water.
In addition, Ngwezi School and small community schools in the area will receive mosquito nets. The health centres do not provide nets to children over five, as children under five and pregnant women are priority.
Accordng to the World Health Organisation malaria is on the increase globally. Consequently, it is imparative to provide universal coverage for the areas that are known to have malaria. Our aim as always is to provide for protection in rural areas that receive no other support, most especially for children.
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