Physical Health Zambia Project #6187

Project Mosquito Nets

by Power of Love Foundation

Project Report | May 28, 2024
The New Malaria Vaccine Is Doing More than Prevent Malaria

By Alka Subramanian | Director

Nets provision to children from the community

Malaria continues to be a deadly disease for children and vulnerable adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. So, when WHO approved the new malaria vaccine in 2022, this news was welcomed all over the world. However, there is more good news; the new malaria vaccine is overdelivering on its promise. Recent studies have shown that the new vaccine may be effective in prevention malaria deaths and all other deaths in children by 13%. This is huge. If these results are consistent, the vaccine would be a major development in child health and malaria control. According to Dr. Steve Taylor, a global health and infectious disease expert, “the vaccine seems to reduce deaths in cases where malaria is only a contributing factor, exacerbating other diseases but not killing the patient itself”. Despite some limitations of the vaccine, such as cost, low efficacy, and the difficulty of administering multiple doses, we can expect a dramatic fall in malaria deaths beginning in 2025/26.

Our response: For the next 2-3 years or till the vaccine is widely available, sleeping under a mosquito bed net is the most cost-effective method of prevention of malaria and other vector borne diseases. For 2024, our plan is to provide 15,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets benefitting 30,000 adults or 55,000 children in Zambia, one of 20 countries with the highest malaria incidence and mortality. Direct beneficiaries will be young children, children/adults living with HIV and/or TB, HIV+ pregnant women, older adults living in rural/peri-urban/urban resource poor areas.

How you can save lives: To reach our goal of 15,000 nets, we need to raise funds for an additional 5,000 nets. Help us get to our goal by donating generously. Every dollar that goes towards malaria prevention saves lives.

Thank you for giving the gift of health to thousands of adults and children vulnerable to malaria.

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Mar 8, 2024
We Are Fighting Malaria Through the Provision of Mosquito Bed Nets and Education

By Alka Subramanian | Director

Provision of nets in a rural area in Zambia

Is malaria a problem? In 2022, malaria claimed 608,000 lives globally (6% higher than pre-COVID), with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 94% of malaria cases and deaths. Zambia, one of 20 countries with the highest malaria incidence and mortality, has a high prevalence of malaria co-infection with HIV and TB. The population of Zambia is skewed younger (median age 17 years) which aggravates the problem, as malaria can be fatal for children and pregnant women living with HIV. Children infected with HIV continue to suffer for several years after recovering from malaria, and pregnant women are likely to deliver underweight babies. Older/adults living with HIV and/or infected with TB are also vulnerable to malaria. Also, since 40% of the population lives in extreme poverty they cannot afford nets, 33% of homes do not have nets, and the rest do not have enough nets.

Our response: According to the WHO, sleeping under a net is the most cost-effective method of prevention of malaria and other vector borne diseases. This year, we have provided 2,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets and education on malaria prevention benefitting 7,000 children or 4,000 adults as each net can sleep up to four children and two adults.

Next steps: Our plan is to provide 15,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets this year benefitting 30,000 adults or 55,000 children. Direct beneficiaries are young children, children/adults living with HIV and/or TB, HIV+ pregnant women, older adults living in rural/peri-urban/urban resource poor areas.

How you can save lives: We are raising funds to provide an additional 12,000-15,000 nets to people who cannot afford to purchase nets. And our dream is to eradicate malaria from Zambia. Help make this a reality by donating generously. Every dollar that goes towards malaria prevention saves lives.

Thank you for giving the gift of health to thousands of adults and children vulnerable to malaria.

Nets provision in a rural area

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Dec 2, 2023
Good News! A Second Malaria Vaccine Has Been Approved

By Alka Subramanian | Executive Director

Nets will keep children malaria free

Good News! Malaria continues to take more than 600,000 lives every year with 80% of deaths among children under five. However, there is good news on the malaria prevention front. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a second vaccine for malaria prevention recently. Clinical trials indicate that malaria cases declined by 75% after 3 doses of the new R21/Matrix-M vaccine. This new vaccine, in addition to the existing vaccine, will help ensure that we have enough doses of malaria vaccines for everyone who is the most vulnerable to this disease. In addition, the new vaccine costs almost 50% less than the RTS,S vaccine and is expected to be available in Sub-Saharan Africa by mid-2024. Both vaccines are shown to be safe and effective in preventing malaria in children and, when implemented broadly, are expected to have a high public health impact.

Next Steps: Till the malaria vaccine is widely available, malaria bed nets remain the most cost-effective solution to prevent malaria and other vector borne diseases such as Dengue. We are raising funds to save lives of people who are highly vulnerable to these diseases but cannot afford to purchase nets.

Our Response: We believe that 100% of malaria cases and deaths are unnecessary as malaria is both preventable and curable. To keep families safe from malaria, we were able to provide 10,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets this year, benefiting more than 18,000 children or 35,000 adults as each net can sleep 2 adults or four children. For 2024, our plan is to provide 10,000-15,000 long lasting insecticide nets and education. Help make this a reality by donating generously. Every dollar that goes towards malaria prevention saves lives.

Thank you for giving the gift of health to thousands of adults and children vulnerable to malaria.

Nets provision in a rural area

Nets provision in a rural area in Zambia

A demo regarding proper use of nets

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