Project Mosquito Net
Malaria is the single biggest killer for children in Africa. Over 300,000 children die from malaria every year, young children are especially vulnerable as their immune systems are still developing.
Our mission is to reduce malaria deaths to zero as malaria is both preventable and curable. In addition, our goal is to improve knowledge about malaria and HIV. We believe that if we work with comunity partners we can eliminate malaria from Zambia.
Is Malaria still a Problem? Globally, there were an estimated 228 million cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths in 2018. Ninety percent of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and malaria is the leading cause of death for children under five. Over 300,000 children die (a child dies every two minutes) in Africa every year from malaria even though it easily preventable and treatable. In addition, malaria is the single biggest drag on Africa’s economy with estimated losses of $12 billion a year (a loss in GDP growth of about 1.3% per year) due to increased healthcare costs, lost ability to work and effects on tourism. Ending malaria will have huge health and economic globally. Malaria free countries have five times greater economic growth than countries with malaria. Each dollar invested in malaria control in Africa, returns $40 in economic growth, contributing to Africa’s prosperity and its prospects as a trading partner. The African leaders want investment and not aid. Finally, better health and incomes for all will put the world on the path to sustainable development as outlined by the UN’s Sustainable Development goals for 2030.
Can Malaria be eliminated from Zambia: Zambia has set a lofty goal of eliminating malaria by 2021, even though malaria transmission rates continue to be high in all parts of the country. According to the USAID, this goal is ambitious, but within reach. In the US, malaria has been eradicated and it is possible to eradicate it worldwide.
How do we eradicate malaria? According to WHO, sleeping under a net is one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria. In addition, the WHO recommends that nets should be provided free to ensure universal access to all.
"If you put plain old bed nets around and do it properly and spray them with insecticide, you can get rid of half the malaria deaths in Africa, and that's at least a million a year." — Michael Specter, writer for the New Yorker magazine
According to the WHO, 90% of families with a bed net use it. However, only 50% of families in sub-Saharan African sleep beneath a mosquito bed net. This highlights the need to provide nets to more families in Sub-Saharan Africa. A decrease in LLIN (long lasting insecticide treated nets) coverage now can lead to a major resurgence of the disease, reversing the gains made over the past several years. We have momentum to eradicate malaria; lets not stop now.
What steps are we taking to eliminate malaria? In Zambia, malaria transmission rates are high in all areas of the country. However, one-third of homes do not have nets and two-thirds have only one net. In order to achieve our goals of zero malaria deaths and improved knowledge about malaria, 22,000 insecticide treated bed nets and education was provided to vulnerable families in 2022. For 2023, our plan is to provide 20,000 insecticide treated nets and education. Here are stories of children and their families who use nets regularly and are malaria free.
Over the last 13 years, Project Mosquito Nets has been able to provide more than 83,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets to children and families in Zambia. As a result, we are seeing fewer cases of malaria and a significant improvement in the health of vulnerable women and children. With improved health, children are able to attend school regularly and women are better able to take care of their families. Program activities are designed to reduce the incidence of malaria.
In the last 13 years (2010-2022), we have been able to provide 83,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets and education on malaria prevention to children and families in Zambia. These nets helped prevent malaria for an estimated 350,000 children or 150,000 adults (as each net can sleep up to four young children or two adults). Read more about the impact of our malaria prevention program here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013. Studies are conducted every year to assess the impact of provision of nets, get feedback from the community and make improvements. Our last study findings are given here.
Beneficiaries are children and families in our pediatric HIV care, Microfinance, and Safe Park programs, and members of seven high transmission communities in Zambia. Beneficiary families are identified with the help of community based organizations such as churches and government health clinics. Beneficiaries are HIV positive children, children under the age of five, pregnant women, nursing moms, and adults living with HIV and/or infected with TB. These sections of the population are most vulnerable to malaria as co-infection rates between HIV, malaria and TB are high. Malaria can be fatal for children under five and HIV+ pregnant women.
Each distribution of nets is followed by a post distribution study to assess the impact of our malaria prevention activities. These studies assess the health of the beneficiary families, if the nets are being used every night, maintained and stored properly, and re-treated every six months. For results of studies conducted every year click here: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
Project Mosquito Nets provides long lasting insecticide treated nets and education to vulnerable families in Zambia. Community residents, in urban and rural areas, are invited to attend malaria prevention program activities. Activites include:
- information on the impact of malaria, especially on HIV+ children and pregnant women
- how to identify the signs/symptoms of malaria
- instruction on the removal of mosquito breeding grounds through drainage maintenance
- demonstrations on how to correctly use and maintain nets
- how to clean and store nets
- how to re-treat nets every six months
- provision of nets
Project Mosquito Nets was launched in 2005 as a joint effort between the Power of Love Foundation, the Orange County based non-profit Be the Cause (www.bethecause.org) and the Akado Medical Clinic located in Mbita, Kenya. Since then, the project has grown significantly and we have been able to provide more than 48,000 mosquito nets in Zambia and Kenya. In 2010, our malaria prevention progam was moved to Zambia. The program in Kenya was discontinued.
For 2020, our plan is to provide 12,000-15,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets and education to vulnerable families. Provision of 12,000 nets will benefit 48,000 children or 24,000 adults as each net can sleep u to four young children or two adults.
