Malaria nets are not for curtains

Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the world today. Globally, a child dies of malaria every 45 seconds and in sub-Saharan Africa, every 30 seconds. According to the World Health Organisation, the victims are largely children living in Africa.

The statistics are harrowing but rates are coming down and they could come down even further if more people have life-saving mosquito nets – and learn how to use them properly.

This is the call from child development charity on World Malaria Day today. Although the provision of insecticide-treated malaria nets can reduce instances of malaria by up to 50 per cent, the organisation warns that distribution of nets must go hand in hand with education if they are to make a lasting difference.

Bappi Debnath, a Compassion sponsored child, lives in the Netrokona district in Bangladesh with his family. Out of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, 13 are declared malaria prone regions, making the disease a major public health issue in the country.

Netrokona is one of the mosquito-prone districts and some of Bappi’s friends had died from headaches, high fevers and vomiting. Bappi himself had experienced such symptoms.

Yet he had never heard of malaria and had no idea that a mosquito bite could kill until he was registered with Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Programme.

With more than 13.3 million people at risk of contracting malaria in Bangladesh, Compassion is working through a network of around 100 churches to educate people through the Malaria Control Programme. Bappi’s parents were among those who attended the training in Birisiri.

Not only does the programme hand out anti-malarial nets, trained volunteers educate people about the causes and consequences of malaria, how to use the mosquito nets properly, and where they should go to seek treatment.

In addition to the meetings, educational billboards are placed throughout communities to explain how malaria can be prevented and treated.

Hundreds of meetings have taken place across Bangladesh since the programme was launched in 2010. At least 14,800 insecticide-treated malaria nets have been distributed to families.

Bappi’s father, Anil, is a vegetable seller who earns between 70p and £1.10 a day.

He says: “I had never heard of an insecticide-filled mosquito net. The qualities of these nets are very good. I couldn't afford such nets to protect my children from malaria."

Bappi’s mother, Kolpona, was also unaware of the dangers before taking part in one of the meetings.

“I didn't know that my children could die by mosquito bites. The project people had taught us many things about malaria and how to prevent it.

“They showed us pictures, demonstrated how to hang a mosquito net, and acted out dramatic skits about malaria.

“They encouraged us not to throw garbage around our house and to keep our surroundings clean.”

A simple mosquito net has made all the difference to Bappi.

He shares, “"Because of the mosquitoes we couldn't sleep well at night. Mosquito bites are the worst thing at night. Now we can sleep well and stay away from malaria too."

For Compassion, education is “key” to eradicating malaria. Worldwide, the organisation has distributed more than 119,000 insecticide-treated nets and provided education on how to use them.

The impact is significant. In Uganda, where it handed out 27,000 nets, malaria cases among Compassion’s sponsored children were halved.

Dr Alemayehu Habtegabriel, Senior Health Specialist for Compassion Africa, said: “Simply making the nets available to the caregivers does not necessarily make them a desirable commodity.

“Nets may not be used as intended for a variety of reasons. We have even observed where nets were used as window curtains because of lack of proper education.”

Sidney Muisyo, Compassion’s Regional Vice President for Africa, said the malaria programme was holistic.

“We know that bed nets are crucial in the fight against malaria, but we also know that a person cannot live under a bed net all the time.

“So we educate children and their families about issues like how to minimize the likelihood of mosquitoes coming into their homes and how to avoid creating mosquito breeding grounds.

“By doing so we are filling in the gaps left by bed net distribution alone.”