By Alka Subramanian | Executive Director
A Unique Year
According to Bill Gates, 2020 was a year with “mutually exacerbating catastrophes” due to COVID. Public health has been setback by 25 years, as people are not seeking health care and consequently not receiving life-saving services such as vaccinations. According to WHO, malaria deaths can double due to COVID in Sub-Saharan Africa. The need to escalate preventive measures that include mosquito bed nets and spraying homes with insecticides is greater this year.
Why Zambia
Malaria transmission rates are high in all areas in Zambia, due to high co-infections rates between HIV and malaria, water collection, and poor sanitation. One-third of households do not have access to even one net and the remainder may need more than one net per household. Also, less than 50% of children under five sleep under a net, even though malaria can be fatal for young children. Pregnant women living with HIV are also highly vulnerable to malaria infection and death.
Our Response
To keep vulnerable families safe from malaria, 3,000 mosquito bed nets and education were provided in rural and urban areas this month as the malaria season runs from October to May. Nets provision took place in a safe manner to prevent the spread of COVID.
As always, beneficiary communities were selected based on need and transmission rates of malaria. Direct beneficiaries were young children, children and adults living with HIV, older people, people suffering from TB, and pregnant women. Young children, and HIV+ pregnanat women are especially vulnerable as malaria can be fatal for these groups.
Plan for 2021
Our goal is to provide a total of 12,000-15,000 long lasting insecticide nets and education benefitting 20,000-50,000 adults and children as each net can sleep up to four young children or two adults. Our vision is for Zambia to be malaria free in the next three years. Zambia has set a lofty goal of eliminating malaria by 2021and according to the USAID this goal is ambitious but within reach.
Thanks for keeping children and families free from malaria and COVID-19
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