Project Mosquito Nets

Report on Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Malaria Nets in Lusaka, Zambia

Introduction:

 We would like to thank donors who provided a generous gift of health to people vulnerable to Malaria in Zambia. As a result of their gift, we will distribute 850 long lasting insecticide treated nets to pregnant women and children vulnerable to Malaria in Lusaka, Zambia. The nets will be distributed in January 2011 which is the start of the Malaria season in Zambia. The nets will be distributed in Lusaka, which is the capital of Zambia and lies within the latitude and longitude of 15 deg 28’ S and 28 deg10’ E.

Lusaka  has a population of about 1.2 million people and some of the compounds in Lusaka are: Matero, Chipata, Garden, Ngombe, Lilanda, and Bauleni. Malaria bed nets will be distributed to people living in the Matero compound as this is one of the biggest compounds in Lusaka and has a population of about 175,000. Also, the people living in Matero are at high risk and vulnerable to Malaria, and too poor to afford bed nets. In addition, the government has been unable to provide free nets to the people here. Lastly, a high prevalence of HIV makes the population at a higher risk for malaria as their immune system is compromised.

A distribution of 850 long lasting insecticide treated nets will allow 1700 people to benefit from the nets as we assume 1 net for 2 sleeping spaces. The planned distribution of mosquito nets is the result of team work and partnership by three organizations: the Power of Love Foundation and the Global Giving Foundation based in the US, and the Matero Care Center based in Lusaka, Zambia.

At the Power of Love Foundation, we strongly believe that it is important to get community buy-in/ownership to ensure long term success of such distribution activities. Accordingly, we have partnered with the officials of the Ministry of Health, Government Clinic, the District Health Management Team, and community members and they have been involved from the beginning in all activities related to the distribution of mosquito nets. 

Process of Distribution of Nets

Pre-Distribution Activities: The Matero Care Center (MCC) in Lusaka, Zambia implements all of Power of Love’s projects in Zambia and will identify beneficiaries in December 2010.

Profile of Beneficiaries: Typically beneficiary families are unemployed, have very few assets and income and are unable to purchase a mosquito net. In addition, many of the beneficiary households are headed by grandparents who are caring for several grandchildren as they have lost their own children to HIV/AIDS.  

Distribution Day: Distribution of nets is planned for January 2011 as this is the start of the Malaria season in Zambia. A budget for the proposed distribution is given in Annex 1 below.

We are planning on conducting the following activities on Distribution Day:

1. Hold demonstrations on the proper treatment, and use and set up of the mosquito nets.
2. Provide education on prevention of Malaria. The malaria education component included:
   1. Health education on prevention of malaria e.g. proper use of mosquito nets, drainage maintenance, filling and removal of breeding sites, treating of mosquito nets.
   2. Negative impacts of malaria in pregnancy e.g. maternal death, abortion, still birth and low birth weight.
   3. Facts regarding malaria in immune compromised children.
   4. Identification of symptoms of Malaria.
   5. High risk of death for children under 5 years.

 Need for More Nets

There is already a request for more nets from other compounds in Lusaka as the incidence of malaria in the area was high and that the area needed many more nets and education on malaria to reduce malaria deaths.

Conclusion:

We are very thankful to our donors for making the upcoming distribution of 850 nets to benefit 1700 people possible. This distribution will go a long way in reducing the incidence of Malaria in the Matero compound in Lusaka. We hope to continue such distributions two times a year so that we can eradicate malaria from this area.   

                                                                  Annex 1

Budget for Education on Malaria Prevention and Distribution of 850 Nets in Lusaka, Zambia

 Expense Item              Quantity          Unit Cost        Total Cost

 Mosquito Nets                        850                  6                      5,100

Remuneration for Educators        3                   85                        255

Transport of Nets                       1                    64                         64

Transport for guests                    6                   32                       192              

Hall Rental                                 1                   53                        53

Documentation                           1                  106                      106               

Snacks                                      1                    43                      43     

 Banner                                      1                    32                      32

 Total                                                                                    5,845  

Links:

• About Project Mosquito Nets
• Launch of Project Mosquito Nets in Lusaka, Zambia
• Launch of Project Mosquito Nets in Rural Zambia