Project Mosquito Nets

This Mother's Day give a gift of health to a family in Zambia. Our  malaria prevention program provides long lasting insecticide treated bed nets and education on prevention of malaria to children and families vulnerable to malaria in Zambia. Your ongoing support has helped in keeping children malaria free, healthy and in school.

Impact of Usage of Mosquito Bed Nets on Children's' Health

Over the last five years, we have been able to provide 6,800 long lasting insecticide treated nets and education on prevention of malaria to children and families in Zambia. These nets were used by an estimated 27,200 children (as each net can sleep up to four young children) or 13,600 adults (as each net can sleep two adults). Nets are provided to people who are vulnerable to malaria; for example, people living with HIV, older people, expecting moms, young children, and people with TB. Use of bed nets has led to a marked improvement in the health of all beneficiaries but the impact on the health of young children has been much greater. This is because malaria can have severe consequences on the health of younger children whose bodies have yet to develop the strength to fight the disease. In addition, malaria can be fatal for an HIV+ child who is malnourished, and an HIV+ pregnant woman. Finally, people living with HIV are three times as likely to suffer from malaria, as compared to a person who is HIV negative.

Need For Nets: The need for several thousand more nets is ongoing for the following reasons: (i) in low income areas in Zambia, there are several water logged areas/sewers which are breeding grounds of mosquitoes, (ii) due to an unemployment rate upwards of 60%, most beneficiaries live on less than a dollar a day and cannot afford a net, and (iii) a high rate of HIV incidence increases their vulnerability to malaria.

At this time we are raising funds to provide 2000 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN’s) and education on malaria prevention in June 2015 and before the start of the next malaria season. Please donate generously to help save lives. A donation of $10 will provide two nets that can prevent malaria for a family of two adults and 3-4 small children.

Thanks for your compassion.

Links:

• About our Malaria Prevention Program
• Health Education Day 2014
• Results of a Post Distribution Study

With your support, Power of Love Foundation was able to provide 2000 long lasting insecticide treated nets and education on prevention of malaria to children and families in the summer of 2014. Recipients of nets included those sections of the population most vulnerable to malaria, namely children under five years of age, HIV positive children, expecting moms, people living with HIV, people infected with TB, and orphans and vulnerable children.

In order to assess the impact of our malaria prevention program, we conducted a follow up study in October 2014. The study indicated that the use of bed nets has led to fewer cases of malaria in the community and fewer visits to the clinic. As a result of improved health, school attendance and performance in school is higher. We are confident that with the continued provision of malaria bed nets and education, there will be a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria in this community. More detail is provided below.  

Findings of a Post-distribution of Malaria Nets Study

In order to understand the impact of the provision of nets and education on malaria prevention we met with 200 beneficiary families in October 2014 to:

(i)     assess the impact of nets usage,

(ii)   learn if nets were being used as demonstrated and identify and educate families who were not using nets in the proper way,  

(iii) assess the number of malaria cases/deaths if any,

(iv) estimate the number of direct and indirect beneficiaries.

Findings of the Study:  Based on our conversations we learnt that most beneficiaries,

(i)     know what measures to take to prevent malaria,

(ii)   are using the nets as demonstrated prior to the provision of nets, 

(iii) know when and where to take the nets for re-treating with pesticide after six months,  

(iv) are storing nets properly as they are relatively clean and not damaged/torn, and

(v) the number of direct and indirect beneficiaries is approximately 3200 adults and children as a net can sleep multiple people (one net can sleep two adults or four young children).

Impact of the Provision of Nets and Education on Malaria Prevention

Most of the older children and adult beneficiaries are using the bed nets, and the nets are being used as demonstrated during the distribution day activities. Nets were kept clean and stored properly when not in use. A few beneficiaries did not know the proper way of using nets and they were provided with information on this subject. In addition, recipients of nets have increased knowledge and awareness about malaria prevention.

Community and Church leaders expressed their thanks and would like this malaria prevention program to continue in 2015 and beyond. This is especially true as most families live on less than one dollar a day due to high levels of unemployment and are unable to afford net.  

The use of bed nets has led to fewer cases of malaria in the community and fewer visits to the clinic. As a result of improved health, school attendance and performance in school is higher. We are confident that with the continued provision of malaria bed nets and education, there will be a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria in this community.

Thanks for helping prevent malaria in Zambia. 

Links:

• About Project Mosquito Nets
• Children's health and malaria bed nets
• Stories of Children who are malaria free