About 60% of the population of Busukuma, a village in Uganda, suffers from malaria. The problem of the large occurrence of malaria in this village influences people's health, economic and social status and is a cause of many deaths. The community of Busukuma has been seeking support to reduce the level of malaria incidences in their village.
Malaria is the most serious parasitic disease in the world, which occurs in tropical regions. Each year 300-500 million people are infected and over a million people die as a result of this infection. Most of the malaria cases (about 90%) occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Children under the age of 5 and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the disease, often leading to death.
Malaria is endemic in 95% of Uganda and is a very serious health problem that currently poses the most significant threat to the people's quality of life. Malaria is a parasite spread through the female anopheles mosquito, easily infecting people. The symptoms include fever, headaches, nausea and vomiting, body aches, chills and sweats, general malaise as well as more serious symptoms such as anemia, enlarged liver, seizures and coma, organ failure, and kidney failure to name but a few.
However, malaria is very preventable. Since anopheles mosquitoes tend to be out at night, most infections occur between 10 pm and 5 am. By sleeping under insecticide treated nets (ITNs), the risk of malaria infection or greatly reduced. In addition, increasing awareness and knowledge is a big factor in reducing the spread of malaria.
To address this situation, community members have organized a plan to address this situation. The community would like to introduce an awareness campaign. The following activities will be conducted:
a) Discuss the use of ITNs with local leaders
b) Conduct a door-to-door campaign to teach about malaria
c) Form a Malaria Club and work with local schools
d) Hold a Malaria Club competition twice a year
e) Supply and distribute malaria drugs
f) Provide water tank covers to the most vulnerable homes in the community
g) Supply ITN bed nets to the most vulnerable members of the community
All of these activities will be conducted with local community members and volunteers and through community-based organizations. Training will be provided to volunteers and we will work closely with health care workers in the area.