|
United Nations Children's Fund
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (UNICEF) - Under the shade of a tree in deep rural Mozambique, nurse Sonia Tomocene is speaking to a small gathering about malaria prevention. Before her, pregnant women and young children sit on simple reed mats and listen to her advice attentively.
Equipped with an illustrated teaching manual, she explains to the rapt audience how to properly use a mosquito bednet. An enthusiastic young mother holding her child volunteers to show how the edges need to be tucked under the mat when sleeping in order to reduce the threat of malaria.
Learning to protect themselves
Malaria is the biggest killer of children in Africa, and accounts for an estimated 600,000 deaths each year across the continent. Particularly dangerous for pregnant women and young children with vulnerable immune systems, in Mozambique, it is the leading killer of children, with 3,500 dying every day.
The fight against malaria is changing, however, as families learn to sleep under mosquito nets. “People realize that it works,” said Ms. Tomocene. “By doing more to protect themselves against mosquitoes, they can reduce the chances of becoming sick.”
Graduating as a nurse just five months ago, she now works in a small but busy clinic in this rural outpost, examining more than 30 patients a day.
Regina Charles, 20, who is eight months pregnant with her second child, has arrived for her last antenatal check-up. “My two-year-old son Albano has been sick with malaria a couple of times,” she said. “But since we’ve been sleeping under a net, he has not had a problem.”
Large scale effort
In addition to reaching pregnant women and children under the age of five, blanket distribution of nets to local households is having a major impact.
Last year, malaria cases dropped by more than a fifth in Gorgongora District after over 70,000 nets were distributed at no cost. “It’s a very strong indicator that every child needs a net to save his life,” said UNICEF Chief of Communication in Mozambique, Arild Drivdal.
he universal distribution of mosquito nets is now a national policy being rolled out across the country. The benefits far outweigh the risks.
“There is always a danger that some nets will be used for fishing or other purposes,” warned Gorgongora District Preventative Health Officer, Amir Abibo Chear, who was responsible for distribution plans in the district. “The proof that the majority of nets are being used properly is that we have less sick people coming to the clinic and in need of treatment.”
Making big strides
Bednets are only part of the solution, however, stressed, Lino Toroge, a small-scale cotton farmer, who spends his spare time as a community health volunteer. Fighting the spread of malaria at its source is essential, and Mr. Toroge works tirelessly to help curb the mosquito population, by teaching people how to keep their villages free of waste and stagnant water.
With big strides made across Africa to prevent disease outbreaks, higher goals are being set now – controlling malaria is not enough, total eradication has to be achieved. This would be a great victory for Africa’s children.
Copyright 2013 UNICEF
(Copyright
Terms)
Updated 602 days ago Article ID# 1234487
United Nations Children's Fund
View
Charity Profile
Visit Website
|
|
|
|
UNICEF provides drought aid to Marshall Islands
|
|
31 hours ago From Islands Business
|
|
SUVA, FIJI - More than 5,000 people in the north of Marshall Islands have limited access to clean and safe drinking water, proper sanitation and nutritious food. The emergency response is focusing attention on health and hygiene with reports of an increase in ...
|
|
|
|
|
Malaria campaign chalk success in the north
|
|
40 hours ago From Myjoyonline.com
|
|
ACCRA, GHANA - The Hang Up Your Net Campaign, conducted by the Ghana Health Service, with support from UNICEF and DFID, has led to a dramatic increase in mosquito net ownership to 90 percent from 60 per cent in 2011 in Northern Ghana, according to an ...
|
|
|
|
|
Kaseba calls for closer UNICEF, Zambia ties
|
|
41 hours ago From Times of Zambia
|
|
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - ZAMBIA and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) should sustain a good working relationship and ensure various health challenges are tackled, First Lady Christine Kaseba has said. Dr Kaseba said there was need for standardised implementatio ...
|
|
|
|
|
Project to end malnutrition in Niger
|
|
9 days ago From Afrique en Ligue
|
|
PARIS, FRANCE - Malnutrition: EU, UNICEF give Niger CFAF 6.2b to end malnutrition - The European Union (EU) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday announced a grant of CFAF 6.2 billion (US$12.3 million) to Niger as part funding for a project to end ...
|
|
|
|
|
Lenny Kravitz teams up with UNICEF to do PSA on vaccine-preventable diseases
|
|
12 days ago From The Global Dispatch
|
|
DENVER, COLORADO - Multiple Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and guitarist, Lenny Kravitz, has partnered with UNICEF to create a new series of Public Service Announcements (PSA) to to urge people to join UNICEF to bring about an end to preventable child deaths . ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| <<
Return To
Health
News |
|
|
