Todd (right) and teammate Peter get ready for a bike event to raise awareness about malaria. |
PATH staffer blogs about World Malaria Day
MACEPA advocacy officer Todd Jennings is blogging and Paul Sachika is shooting video in Zambia this week during activities to mark World Malaria Day (April 25). Check back for his daily reflections, photos, and videos. Todd will also be posting thoughts on malaria’s economic impact and its links to poverty on the ONE Campaign's blog.
World Malaria Day
April 25, 2008—The first-ever World Malaria Day—Friday, April 25—was a beautiful day in Zambia, and a huge crowd gathered in Mukuni Park in Livingstone to mark the occasion. In the shade of the dignitaries’ tent sat 14 health ministers from southern Africa, the Vice President of Zambia, and the Princess of Belgium. Traditional dancers, majorettes, and drama groups entertained the crowd, and speakers reminded them that, while malaria is deadly, it can be defeated if we all fight together.
“As the chair of the SADC health ministers, I can confirm that our commitment to the fight against malaria is steadfast and unwavering,” said Dr. Brian Chituwo, Zambia’s Minister of Health. “This year’s slogan, ‘malaria—a disease without borders,’ reflects the essence of the bold Roll Back Malaria Zambezi Expedition, which will demonstrate that only a cross-border initiative can force the disease into retreat in the region.”
World Malaria Day is the most important awareness-raising day on the malaria calendar. But the most important day in the fight against the disease is April 26th. That is, what happens when the VIPs move on, the musicians pack their instruments, and the cameras—the media spotlight—refocus on the next annual commemoration? If World Malaria Day is only a spike in attention in the fight to prevent a preventable disease, how does it impact a family in rural Zambia, 30 kilometers from the nearest clinic?
It’s the job of the media, the malaria workers, and the public to keep pressing for more attention and resources in the fight against malaria. Slogans, river adventures, and princess hospital visits are important events that deserve the international media coverage they receive. But the target audience—if we are to truly “roll back malaria,” to see a “malaria-free” Zambia in our lifetime, to “kick out malaria” from Africa—must be the swarms of young children that materialize at public events like we see on World Malaria Day. If that generation is not reached, the disease will continue to take its toll.
A vital message on World Malaria Day and every day is that amazing progress is being made; the prevalence of malaria is going down. This summer there will be results from the 2008 Malaria Indicator Survey in Zambia, an activity that is underway right now. All across the country, 15 four-person teams are testing for malaria, and, with handheld computers, recording household data on the use of malaria prevention tools. Comparing against the 2006 survey results on the website of Zambia’s National Malaria Control Centre will provide the best picture yet of the state of malaria control in Zambia.
The media spotlight may have moved on from last week’s surge of malaria stories, but the work continues: supplying malaria drugs, nets, and insecticides and using a smart mix of messengers and messages to ensure that use shadows coverage; encouraging more public-private partnerships to spread malaria commodities and messages like we see in Zambia’s sugar companies and copper mines; moving away from isolated efforts at funding and treating diseases (if an AIDS sufferer has his death sentence removed thanks to antiretroviral medication but doesn’t have access to a treated bednet and dies from malaria, what’s the point?).
Recently there’s been talk of eliminating or even eradicating malaria, and sometimes it can seem like a distraction from the work on the ground. But it’s also important to set a goal. Before, a plan to rapidly prevent and control the disease nationwide—scale-up—was viewed as over-ambitious, as unrealistic. Zambia has shown scale-up to be not only possible but a wise investment, and other countries are following its lead. Soon, the positive stories will be too many to be filed on one day in April.
Listen to Zambia’s Minister of Health affirm the commitment to combat malaria (3 MB MP3).
Spreading the word about malaria control
April 25, 2008—World Malaria Day attracts a lot of dignitaries, and with dignitaries you’ll find the media close behind. Yesterday morning Princess Astrid of Belgium visited Livingstone General Hospital, handing out insecticide-treated bednets to pregnant women and new mothers at the maternity ward, and to children at the pediatric ward. The pack of visitors with their cameras and microphones and lightning flash bulbs shuffled by each wide-eyed patient like a rugby scrum, documenting every royal step and word.
Dr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of Roll Back Malaria; Princess Astrid of Belgium; and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Photo by Todd Jennings.
Such events can be powerful tools on a global scale, raising awareness of malaria. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, the South African singer, was a part of the tour and even broke out her amazing voice for a young girl who was waiting for results from her malaria blood test. A news story like that can introduce people to a disease that they don’t encounter in their lives in New York or London or Paris.
Princess Astrid of Belgium and singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka visit Livingstone General Hospital. Music by Yvonne Chaka Chaka; video by Paul Sachika.
But what about connecting to those who are most at risk of the disease—children under five, pregnant women, and the chronically ill—who, every night, are exposed to the female Anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria? Zambia is a rural country, an estimated two-thirds of its 12 million people living beyond urban centers. In those areas, TV reception to watch the news can be spotty, and more limiting is the income to be able to buy a TV and a satellite dish.
Enter community radio, which plays an important role in fighting malaria. Radio reaches those well past the paved roads: it is cheap and portable, it brings the world to a listener in her language, and it transcends obstacles like illiteracy. Community radio stations are based in the communities they serve and broadcast in the local languages (Zambia has seven main local languages, plus English), so it delivers messages about malaria control that people can understand.
Listen to Princess Astrid of Belgium speak on World Malaria Day (3 MB MP3).
Malaria —a disease without borders
Thursday, April 24, 2008—The River of Life Expedition has arrived in Livingstone! This two-month-long boat trek along the Zambezi River is raising awareness and delivering malaria interventions in six countries in southern Africa. They timed their journey to arrive during World Malaria Day activities. All crew members are in one piece despite the perils of crocs and hippos, boredom and sun. Crossing borders in Africa can be a hassle; arranging for a boat adventure through six countries is not a feat for amateurs. Thanks to a lot of planning and hard work by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and national malaria programs, the expedition is on schedule. (Thanks also to the Angolan military, who stepped in to helicopter the crew around some unexpected falls earlier this month!)
The River of Life Expedition boat and crew. Photo by Pru Smith, Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
More than half of the voyage remains—more in Zambia, then Zimbabwe and Mozambique—but all are in good spirits. Helge Bendl, one of the expedition leaders, reminded today’s press conference gathering of the reason for putting four inflatable boats in the Zambezi to go 2,500 kilometers downriver to where it spills into the Indian Ocean. At each border crossing, he said, as the crew waited for hours to be processed, a mosquito would talk to him: “We don’t have any problem, we just fly right through!” Mosquitoes don’t respect borders, so it’s imperative that people along the Zambezi River—a front line for many countries—work together toward a malaria-free future. These countries are joining forces on a trans-Zambezi proposal to fund a coordinated attack on malaria. It’s a much needed step, together, in the right direction.
The River of Life Expedition is more than a symbolic journey or a PR stunt. Medical personnel work with river communities along the way to test and treat for malaria. District health teams coordinate with the expedition to deliver insecticide-treated bednets where the team comes ashore. International and local journalists document the successes achieved in malaria prevention and also the obstacles remaining.
Malaria and HIV/AIDS
April 23, 2008—Today Maureen Mwanawasa, the First Lady of Zambia, unveiled a billboard encouraging pregnant mothers to sleep under a treated mosquito net. Why? The First Lady is committed to preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child—in the womb or during breastfeeding. But how does this relate to World Malaria Week?
Malaria preys most on those with compromised or developing immune systems: children under five, pregnant women, the chronically ill. The interaction between malaria and HIV/AIDS has been described as the collision of elephants and hippos. An HIV-positive pregnant woman, for example, is much more susceptible to contracting malaria; it’s vital that she sleeps under a treated bednet to protect her and her unborn child.
On a blustery Lusaka morning, the First Lady reminded the crowd that more children die of malaria than AIDS. Malaria is a preventable disease—one that demands the same attention as HIV/AIDS, she said. A commitment by the Government of Zambia to malaria prevention on a national scale, a speech by the First Lady, a bicycle race, and more—it is hoped that these World Malaria Week activities will translate into greater attention and resources.
The First Lady of Zambia speaks about HIV/AIDS and malaria. Video by Paul Sachika.
Cycling crusader
Tuesday, April 22, 2008—What does a bicycle race have to do with defeating malaria? Everything. Yesterday 31 cyclists began a nearly 600-mile bike race to raise awareness of the disease. They rise early, pedal hard, eat a lot, and sleep well.
Zambia’s National Malaria Control Centre has paved the way for the cyclists, preparing each district to meet them and to energize the community about their arrival. Drama groups, musicians, and other entertainment engage the crowds with malaria messages. The cyclists talk about malaria and how everyone can do his or her part: sleep under a treated bednet, allow your home to be sprayed, go for immediate testing and treatment if you have the symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, loss of appetite).
There was no loss of appetite when I met up with the cyclists this evening at the Chainama Hotel in Lusaka. Those who were out of cycling shape moved like crabs in slow motion, an imaginary bike under their grimaces. Today’s 122-mile leg had taken its toll. No matter the pain level, all inhaled chicken and nshima, a staple food here in Zambia, made of corn flour.
Like all Zambians, each rider has a story of how malaria has affected his or her family. Peter Chintu’s story is more than a decade in the making. In January of 1997, he desperately cycled his four-year-old son Abraham to the nearest hospital. Within hours Abraham was dead.
Listen to Peter tell the story in his own words (2 MB MP3).
It took years for Peter to overcome his loss, and now he is using his experience to share with others the importance of averting this preventable disease. Peter says, “Whatsoever it takes to fight this disease, I think I should be in the forefront.” He works with leaders, health workers, community members—anyone who will listen. Peter is the unofficial spokesman for this year’s Race Against Malaria, and he kindly delayed his carb intake to talk with me about his crusade to free the world of malaria.
Listen to Peter talk about his personal commitment to fighting malaria (1 MB MP3).
Cyclist Peter Chintu. Photo by Jesper Lublinkhof.
United against malaria
Monday, April 21, 2008—The first-ever Prayer Night in commemoration of World Malaria Day took place this evening in churches across Zambia. My wife, Anne Jennings, attended and photographed the vigil in Lusaka, where a candlelight procession (see photo below) and choral music filled the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the capital city’s largest church.
Choral music filled the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Photo by Anne Jennings.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Brian Chituwo, spoke of remembering those who have died of the disease and also implored everyone to do their part in averting this preventable disease, such as sleep under a treated bednet every night. Echoing the World Malaria Day slogan, “United Against Malaria,” Dr. Chituwo said together we can make Zambia malaria-free. The multidenominational Prayer Night also featured music from Lily Tembo, a popular Zambian singer (see photo below) who will next lend her vocal chords at two World Malaria Day concerts this Friday in Livingstone.
Singer Lily Tembo. Photo by Anne Jennings.
This morning, a week of World Malaria Day events kicked off northwest of Lusaka in Serenje, where 31 cyclists began a 920-km race. Stay tuned for posts tomorrow when the cyclists arrive in Lusaka.
Wednesday morning, the First Lady of Zambia, Maureen Mwanawasa, will flag off the next leg of the race and simultaneously unveil a billboard encouraging pregnant mothers to sleep under a treated bednet.
I Will: commitments to stopping malaria