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| Features | | Nets project reaches Tanzania villages | GABBY MGAYA
Daily News; Wednesday,February 04, 2009 @20:05
| DESPITE commendable efforts to combat malaria, the pandemic continues to ravage most parts of the tropical world. The vast majority of malaria deaths occur in Africa, south of the Sahara, where it also presents major obstacles to social and economic development.
According to reports, malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than 12 billion US dollars every year in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP), even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum. Malaria is preventable and treatable and yet: 1 million people die from malaria each year. 300 to 500 million infections are estimated each year.
75 per cent of those who become sick and die are children under-five. About 3,000 children a day die in sub-Saharan Africa.A number of international organisations have come forward to supplement efforts to combat the killer pandemic all over the world.
One of them is Netsforlife, part of a growing constituency of non-governmental organisations, governments, humanitarian and religious institutions focusing on combating malaria around the world. The organisation has made inroads into Tanzania, where it has been active in the prevention of malaria through provision of Netsforlife’s long lasting treated nets.
According to Mr John Gao, the Director of Mea Foundation of the Dar es Salaam Diocese of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the organisation presently operates in a number of wards and villages in Dar es Salaam and Coast Region.
Between 2007 and last year, Netsforlife covered Buguruni Ward in Dar es Salaam, Rufiji Delta (five villages), Bagamoyo District (two villages), Kibaha District (two villages), Kisarawe District (one village), Mkuranga District (two villages), Rufiji Mainland (two villages and Mafia Island (six villages).
A total of 33,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLTNs) were distributed during 2007 in the percentages of 33.1 per cent to children under-five, 4.9 per cent to pregnant women and 62 per cent to other members of the community.
In 2008, the distribution percentage for 33,000 nets issued was 38. 4 per cent for children under-five years of age, 9.5 for pregnant women and 52.1 for other members of the community. According to Gao,nets are distributed directly to registered pregnant women, under-fives and others.
Most nets are sold at low subsidized cost, with priority accorded to pregnant women and children under the age of five. With the help of village, ward and community leaders, the organisation identifies and lists orphans and the disabled for the project.
After that the organisation arranges for a ‘Net Day’ during which nets are distributed. The initiative has successfully trained 60 health educators, 300 volunteer malaria agents, distributed 200,000 flyers at the entire project area and so far distributed 66,000 such nets.
As part of its sensitization programme, Netsforlife has carried out presentations and conducted discussions on the best ways to combat the killer disease in the project area. It has also conducted meetings and video shows there. It has also developed 100,000 brochures on HIVAIDS and distribution is underway.
Netsforlife’s principal objective is to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria, particularly in vulnerable populations including pregnant women, children under-five, the elderly and the immuno-compromised. Netsforlife is grateful fr the sponsorship by the Coca Cola Africa Foundation.
It is not all a bed of roses though because the initiative is faced with a number of challenges. Transportation of nets to the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island has been difficult as project officers have to use dhows to get there.
Other coastal villagesare also difficult to reach due to rough roads, especially during the rainy seasons, not forgetting the fact that the demand for the treated nets is higher than supply, Gao says. | | | | |
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