Health Education Day 2007
In June 2007, six thousand long lasting insecticide treated (LLIN'hs) mosquito nets (a gift of over $48,000 dollars), was distributed to children and families vulnerable to Malaria in Kenya. These nets were provided to POL by World Swim Against Malaria. The Power of Love Foundation transported the nets from Bangkok to Mombassa, Kenya and distributed them to the families and children vulnerable to Malaria in Kenya. The cost of transportation and distribution (not including the cost of the net) of the nets was approximately $4000 dollars or about 65 cents per net. This means that for less than $10, a child in Kenya was provided with a life saving net.
All 6000 nets were distributed in the Suba District region of Kenya. The distribution area consists of slums, fishing villages, and townships located in Mbita, Rusinga Island and Gembe. These three areas are adjacent to one another and located near Lake Victoria. Read the full report from Health Education Day 2007.
The Akado Clinic had conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) survey in April 2007. The aim of the RNA was to gather information on the neighborhoods and areas that are to receive long lasting insecticide bed nets. As a result of the RNA, the Akado Clinic identified 7,307 households without bed nets and at risk for Malaria. In addition, the RNA identified households most at risk that can benefit from the six thousand Malaria nets to be distributed in June 2007. The households most at risk were determined using the following criteria: number of children under 5 in the household, if the household includes a pregnant mother, if the household is headed by a child, if the household has abandoned children, households with people living with HIV/AIDS; and the overall household population density. Special consideration will also be given to orphaned and vulnerable children under the care of elderly and poor grandparents and the rural fisher-folk households living within the impoverished and densely populated fishing-slums in the beach areas.
From the RNA, it clearly emerged that there are still a lot of misconceptions and myths associated with malaria. A majority of those surveyed believe that malaria is spread by eating some kinds of food like sugarcane or unripe mangoes, by walking in the rain, or by walking in the sunlight. Another problem identified by the RNA was that children tend to receive treatment much later after the symptoms of Malaria have set in. The reason for this being the cultural practice that requires that a sick woman or child can only go to the hospital after seeking permission from the husband. Other reasons include long distances to travel to the nearest hospital and extreme poverty that reduces the ability of households to meet medical costs.
Magdalene Ouma, the Chief Administrator of the Akado Clinic has stated, "This donation of six thousand malaria bed nets will go into local history book as the largest consignment of insecticide treated nets ever distributed to the poorest and most marginalized households in the Mbita region by either a non-governmental organization or a community based organization (CBO). We also wanted to draw your kind attention that the nets provided by Kenyan government have failed to reach the poorest pregnant women and desperate children less than 5 years old, since the majority cannot meet the costs and conditions imposed by the government."