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.