Malaria Prevention Saves Lives

Despite all the interventions and recent developments of vaccines to prevent children from contracting malaria, the disease still remains one of the biggest killers of children in sub Sahara Africa. Though the latest vaccination produced by a team from Oxford University sounds promising it will take time before it reaches the vast majority of children in the areas where malaria is most prevalent.

With the imminent onset of the rains in Zambia The Butterfly Tree continues to donate mosquito nets for school children and teachers. This provides universal coverage, and each individual takes ownership of the mosquito net, which must not be shared with or used by someone else.

During my recent visit to Zambia I visited two health post sites. One which The Butterfly Tree developed in 2020 at Bunsanga. It was wonderful to see the facility being run and funded by the Ministry of Health with two resident nurses in residence. The facility provides general practice, post-natal and antenatal care, HIV treatment and malaria testing and treatment.

In the past five years we have provided five health posts, which are invaluable to the wellbeing of these remote communities. Sikaunzwe, Bunsanga, Katondo, Boombwe are all fully operational with trained medical staff. The new health post at Mabwa should be completed by the end of December. This will include a clinic with a maternity ward, two staff houses, toilets for staff and patients, a borehole (well), and a biodigester for waste. Once the construction is completed, we will provide the equipment before handing it over to the government. After which the Ministry of Health will appoint trained medical staff and provide the ongoing costs.

We recently visited the health post at Mabwa. It was wonderful to see the community assisted the skilled builders and cooks providing food for all the helpers. We received a heart-warming welcome and a letter of thanks from Chief Nyawa, which was presented to us by the senior headman. 

we stopped at the primary school to distribute mosquito nets amongst the school children. This month we will donate mosquito nets to other schools in the Mabwa health post catchment area. For the lead up to Christmas and GivingTuesday on the 28th November we are appealing for funds to purchase mosquito nets for more school. A mosquito net costs $8 or £5 and could save a child's life.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Newsletter - November 2023