Malaria Prevention Saves Lives

I have just returned from a very productive visit to Zambia with the highlight being the launch of our new innovative malaria prevention project. This took place at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort on July 29th and was attended by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Government Health and Education officials, District Commissioners, Leading Members of the Communities, the Tourism Sector and the Chamber of Commerce.

After my opening address the Deputy Permanent Secretary gave a speech, followed by a presentation of the malaria prevention products by Stain Musungaila, The Butterfly Tree member who manages the project in Zambia. This was gratefully received by the Ministries and Heads of the Communities, and was subsequently reported in the national press.

Malaria remains the number one killer of man. 75% of all deaths occur in children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa. Every 60 second a child dies from malaria. With a vaccine yet to be approved by the World Health Organisation malaria prevention is essential. According to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine these advanced products, supplied by Vectorcide UK and manufactured in a cutting edge laboratory in Poland, are far superior to anything else currently available on the global market.

The first shipment has arrived in Zambia and is being distributed in villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom where there is a high prevalence of malaria. Chuunga, Kamwi and Syaflwebafweba reported almost four hundred cases of malaria last year. It is imperative that we get these village houses covered with Mozzimort before the onset of the rainy season.

The Ministry of Health, the National Malaria Control Centre, the Zambian Scientific Research Centre and the Environmental Agencies have been instrumental in helping us to get these products into Zambia.

We need further funds to reach out to rural communities to help prevent more loss of life.

Links:

• Malaria Prevention

This month the first of The Butterfly Tree's safe innovative malaria prevention methods are to be distrubuted in Zambia. Remote villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom, where there is a high prevalance of malaria, are to be the first beneficiaries.

It is recognised that insects of all types may have a resistance to many insecticides where the formulation of insecticides has remained the same over the years and where it has been used excessively.The Vecticide product we are to use is a responsible approach to insect control and especially when used to control mosquitoes. It does not have an impact on life and the environment as does conventional Indoor Residual Spraying. The insecticide is sealed within a coating and is painted on to surfaces, making it harmless to humans and animals.

This past year there has been an increase in new cases of malaria in the Southern Province of Zambia. Working with the National Malaria Control Centre we aim to combat this huge issue. Every year thousands of lives are lost with pregnant women and young children being the most vulnerable.

To further tackle to the fight against malaria we are working with a compnay that produces repellent t-shirts. After trying them with school children in Mahalulu, and with our Zambian team, these have proved to be highly effective with no new cases being reported from the ones who received them. Though mosquito nets are the number one prevention, these are only effective if people sleep under them, where as the t-shirts can be worn all day and are particularly useful for rural health workers who are called out in the night.

These new preventative methods introduced into Zambia through The Butterfly Tree could help to save many lives. 

Links:

• Malaria Prevention Projects in Zambia