Faye Callaghan, IFRC Communications manager, Africa
More than 220,000 people are now protected from malaria thanks to a large-scale distribution of mosquito nets by the Malawi Red Cross, with support from the International Federation. The campaign, which provided 120,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated nets(LLINs) to all households in the districts of Mwanza and Neno, is the first of its kind in Malawi not to target specific beneficiaries.
“This universal approach is important as it means all households and household members will be protected from this killer disease,” said Michael Charles, IFRC Malaria delegate for the Southern African region.
“Previously we have targeted pregnant women and children under five, but that has not solved the problem as other segments of the community have been left out and morbidity and mortality due to malaria did not decrease. We also agree with the WHO’s Roll Back Malaria programme’s advice that all family members should sleep under nets. To eradicate this disease, everyone needs to be protected.”
A survey of the communities before the net distribution showed that just 25% of households had long lasting insecticide nets, and of those, only half were using them properly.
Patrick Phiri, Malaria Manager at the Malawi Red Cross explained: “Distributions took place over a period of two weeks and were very peaceful because each household could see how many nets were allocated to them. The turn outwas very impressive largely due to effective communications through village chiefs and Red Cross volunteers.”
As part of the distribution campaign, almost 500 Red Cross volunteers are teaching people how to hang up the nets and making monthly visits to check not only on the use of the nets but on other community health issues.
“Malaria is used as an entry point into the communities. When the volunteers go back into the villages, they also talk to the families about other health priorities such as immunization, the importance of pregnant women seeking ante-natal care, hygiene promotion, nutrition and HIV,” added Michael Charles. “This means we can carry out an ongoing assessment of community health and the villagers don’t tire of the messages we bring.”
Earlier this year, the International Federation launched a report called The winning formula to beat malaria which advocates for extended use of the universal approach used in Malawi.
“We want to reach more people with this approach, because we know it works,” said Michael Charles. “Illnesses and deaths from malaria can be prevented; we just need the funding to expand our operations.”