Stomp Out Malaria!

April is/ was World Malaria Month and for PCVs even more of a push to help Stomp Out Malaria in Africa. Madagascar is still considered one of the red zones in Africa for malaria but interestingly enough its presence is as diverse as its geography. The highlands are typically too cold for the anopheles mosquito (the most deadly and prevalent malaria carrying mosquito) but the eastern coast with its high rainfall and equally high temperatures is particularly at risk for malaria epidemics. Thus preventions is key and that starts with bed nets (the anopheles bites between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM); a massive distribution was held this previous October, and now our work focuses on insuring that those nets are cared for and anyone who still doesn’t have one has access to one. The real leg-work of the project were the murals that we painted throughout the Sud-Est, and each mural was then followed up with a community Q&A about malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Then in a quiet sea side town of Farafangana we rented a PA system during market day and “preached” to the people about malaria prevent ion and even got them to try: properly washing their nets, repair holes and tears, and how to hang their net from a single point. This was followed up by a trip to Farafangana’s Lycee (High School) where we gave a bilingual malaria presentation. The biggest component of Stomp Out Malaria is education and over the past 5 years Madagascar alone has seen a dramatic decrease in Malaria related deaths. More Malagasy have and use bed nets, more Malagasy know the symptoms of malaria and that RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Tests) are readily available CSBs (Community Health Centers) and are free, and finally that Malaria is a disease that can be prevented and doesn’t have to be fatal.

Ampasimanjeva

Ambalona

Farafangana

Salama

Nick