Malaria Program



Malaria is a major public health challenge which costs the world millions of
lives and billions of dollars each year. The Malaika Malaria Project is a
collaboration between the Nyamuswa community, Zinduka, businesses, and the government, which focuses on malaria education and distribution of discounted insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in the Nyamuswa area.  ITNs are the safest,
most cost-effective malaria prevention tool, as they have nominal effects on the environment, human health, and mosquito resistance.  A successful increase
in year-round ITN use requires social change, community involvement, and
village-specific health education plans.  Starting in 2004, Malaika Project volunteers surveyed residents in Nyamuswa , Tanzania about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding malaria prevention.   In 2005, volunteers used the data to initiate
a health education campaign along with sales of discounted ITNs to families in the Nyamuswa area.  In summer 2006, Malaika project volunteers conducted a ITN retreatment day in Nyamuswa, where they retreated over 1000 nets with insecticide,
and sold another 1000 nets!  They also carried on the education plan, and set a foundation for expansion into other villages.

Our interdisciplinary efforts include the following: ITNs are donated or purchased
at a discounted rate from a Tanzanian ITN distributor. Next, Nyamuswa Drama
Group performs plays about malaria at schools and village meetings and
sells discounted ITNs as a fundraiser for their group. Malaika Project volunteers
conduct door-to-door follow-up to gauge whether the nets are effective.  They also organize ITN retreatment days, in which villagers will have the opportunity to
retreat their nets and purchase new ones.  In addition, Malaika volunteers have
the freedom to create new health education programs through the village grade
schools, and to explore opportunities with the Tanzanian government and other
NGO's such as Unicef and IFMSA.

For more details about the malaria project, a timeline, research findings, and project ideas for new volunteers, please download the attached Malaika Malaria Volunteer Manual (PDF - 350Ko). We would welcome anyone who is interested in joining this project.

Please email the previous volunteers (contact info is in the Malaria Manual) if you
are interested and we will do everything we can to help you. It was an incredible experience for us and we hope you will feel the same way.

Stephanie, Nirali, Adrienne, Alex, Kinna, and Maria
Malaika Project Malaria Coordinators and Past Volunteers