Malaria parasites are transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that include anemia (light headedness, shortness of breath, tachycardia etc.) as well as other general symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and in severe cases, coma and death.

• 3 billion people live in areas where malaria transmission occurs, with sub-Sahara Africa the hardest hit.

• There are an estimated 1 million deaths a year from malaria, that’s almost 3000 deaths each day, with 90% of those deaths occurring in Sub-Sahara Africa.

• Of those deaths 800,000 are African children under 5 years old.

Children who do survive malaria do not escape unharmed. Repeated episodes of fever & anaemia take their toll on their mental & physical development impairing their growth into productive adults. The unborn child is also at risk with pregnant women also vulnerable to the disease. This can result in an infection of the placenta & a low birth weight which can lead to impaired development & infant mortality.

Malaria disproportionately affects the poorest people in these countries & therefore contributes to their further impoverishment.

Whilst travelling & working in Africa during September – November 2007 I did not meet one child who had a mosquito net. Within the villages I did not meet one family that had a mosquito net. When I asked why they did not have any nets, they simply responded that they ‘could not afford a net’.

In the North-West province of Zambia I myself tried to purchase just one net & yet despite visiting shops, hospitals, health centres, & pharmacies, I could not even purchase one net & each of these places could not tell me when they would be receiving more nets. It was shocking to think that something so important could not even be purchased even if you had the money!

Prevention

As with most things, prevention is one way we can support these children in their fight against this deadly disease.The mosquitoes that carry malaria are most prevalent between 10pm – 4am when the children are asleep. Providing a child with a mosquito net is giving that child a chance of a life into adulthood.

The Africa Childrens Development Trust is working with the Against Malaria Foundation an organisation working globally to prevent malaria through distribution partnerships.

With your help, a donation of just £3.00 can buy a Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) an LLIN is a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide.

The insecticide is cleverly bound within the fibres that make up the netting and is 'slow released' over a 4-5 year period. Hence 'long lasting'. Each net is also big enough to cover 2 children!

Distribution

The current distribution is focused on Uganda. The nets are distributed by the ACDT during specific 'Net Days' which are amazing days where you know that from that night on & for the next 4 years those children who received nets that day with now be sleeping safely under nets! 

In chiropractic we often use the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ & this is also the case with malaria.

VISIT THE VIDEO PAGE TO SEE SOME OF OUR FILMS SHOWING OUR MALARIA PROGRAMME

2010 DISTRIBUTIONS

2009 DISTRIBUTIONS

2008 DISTRIBUTIONS

• 100 nets given to the Kiro Kabowa Childrens Centre

• 300 nets given to the children at Ndeeba Primary School

• 100 nets given to rural children in the Lowero District

• 35 nets given to the children of the Kikusa Orphanage
• 52 nets given to the children of the Kiro Kabowa Childrens Centre
  
• 13 nets given to the Nagalama Hospital