Isdell:Flowers Cross Border Malaria Initiative Celebrates World Malaria Day

Emilia Wime of TKMI Angola provides malaria education in the streets of Ondjiva, Cunene

On April 25th, Isdell:Flowers teams from Angola, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe celebrated World Malaria Day by educating people about malaria, and mobilizing them to seek testing and treatment for the disease.

Since 2000, the world has made historic progress against malaria and millions of lives have been saved. However, progress in many sub Saharan countries has stalled, highlighting a need for increased investment in the fight against malaria.

In Angola, representatives from the government, the faith community, and other nonprofit partners joined together throughout Cunene and Cuando Cubango provinces in order to raise awareness of malaria. In Ondjiva, Cunene, Volunteers from the Trans Kunene Malaria Initiative performed skits to educate the community, and demonstrated how to hang up and properly used bed nets. King Mario Sachipamba was  in attendance, and received a bed net and a malaria test. 
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Events were also held throughout the province of Cuando Cubango, with the largest taking place in Cuangar. Representatives from all political parties, non profit partners, and traditional and religious authorities joined together for malaria teaching. Net hanging demonstrations, and malaria testing and treatment was also offered. 

In Calai, Cuando Cubango, malaria testing was carried out. Of the 140 people who received tests, 40 were positive for malaria and received treatment. Bed nets were also distributed by CICA/ J.C. Flowers. 

In Namibia, similar activities were carried out by the TKMI  team near the Angolan border, in Omundaungilo Constituency. Representatives from the Anglican Aids Programme, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Elimination 8 Initiative, the Red Cross, and more were in attendance. Volunteers and field workers performed malaria poems and songs, and malaria quiz competitions took place. Testing and treatment was provided. 

In Zambia, malaria testing and treatment was carried out. In Livingstone, 2,321 people were tested. 30 people tested positive for malaria.  

Monica Mvula, Isdell: Flowers Programme Coordinator, participated in the testing and treatment capaign in Sikongo District, Western Province. After discovering a positive case, she tested 25 people in the nearby households and 3 were positive. 

Zambia's National Malaria Elimination Centre (NMEC) convened a World Malaria Day celebration in Kabwe Central Province. During the event, the Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya launched the country's Malaria Inidicator Survey, in addition to new ITN and treatment guidelines.