WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT MALARIA!

• Malaria is on the increase
• 219 million people have malaria
• 435,000 deaths annually
• Children under 5 and pregnant women more at risk

The Butterfly Tree and Medical Aid Films have worked together with Inner Wheel to help prevent malaria. The focus is to raise funds and awareness for malaria prevention. It is important to reduce the number of cases of malaria and provide adequate protection for those at risk.

The Butterfly Tree is a UK charity which works in Zambia raising awareness of malaria and providing practical but innovative help. Mosquito nets are distributed and there is also an insecticide paint which when used on walls kills the mosquito. Another interesting development is the use of larvacide granules which, placed in stagnant water, will kill the eggs. Education is also an important part of their strategy with workshops emphasising the importance of being tested and community health workers helping prevent further complications as a result of contracting malaria.

Medical Aid Films produce simple, easy to understand films which work as a really effective learning tool for people. The films provide clear explanations and go into considerable detail. In Zimbabwe, three Medical Aid Films dealing with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malaria are being made available for people to share for free, courtesy of Econet Wireless, on their mobile phones, thus helping to save lives. The films are produced in a number of languages.

It is reckoned that a child dies of malaria EVERY TWO MINUTES and that half of the world’s population could be at risk from malaria. Together with these two charities, Inner Wheel could help to make a significant difference to life for so many people.