Malaria Prevention Saves Lives

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

The theme for World Malaria Day 2015 is ‘Many Voices, a single Theme‘. All over the world governments and organizations are helping the fight against malaria. Half the world’s population (3.2 billion) are at risk of contracting malaria,most especially in poor countries such as Zambia.

Malaria is the biggest killer of man. 198 million cases and a staggering 584,000 deaths were recorded in 2013. 

The Butterfly Tree is about to launch our most ambitious project to date. A new innovative malaria prevention method will shortly be available in Zambia and beyond, which will initiated by our organisation.

Working alongside a UK corporate who has funded the development of the products, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Mozzimort and Mozzimort Larvicide are reputed to be superior products for malaria prevention. These products have now been approved in Zambia by the Ministry of Health, the Zambian Malaria Control Centre and the Environmental Management Agency.

We have been granted the Licence to import the products into Zambia. Our aim is to distribute these interventions into remote communities and also make them available to the tourism, agriculture, mining and other industries to prevent absenteeism from work as well as saving lives. One of our major donors, Saga Charitable Trust, is supporting this project.

Mosquito nets will continue to be used as an effective method for malaria prevention. The new products will provide further protection, Mozzimort being an alternative to Indoor Residual Spraying.

Links:

• World Malaria Day 2015