All funds raised in 2005 by Pubs Against Poverty went to the following program run by World Vision
Malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes, is the most serious public heath threat in Tanzania with 93.7% of the population potentially at risk. The World Health Organisation reports that malaria is a major killer of children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa . Lack of knowledge about the spread, prevention and treatment of the illness add to its effect. As a result, there are high infection and death rates. Women’s health particularly is affected by heavy workloads and anemia (iron deficiency) which is made worse by malaria and can lead to spontaneous abortions or maternal deaths.
Malaria has been spreading into regions previously unaffected by the disease, in part due to climate change caused by deforestation, and the migration of people seeking work from malarial zones to non-malarial areas. In areas where malaria hasn’t previously been a serious problem, people often lack the knowledge of how to combat the disease.
Poverty is another contributing factor. Many people simply lack the resources to either invest in preventative measures, such as treated nets, or seek appropriate health care. As many families don’t grow enough food to even meet their own needs, hunger and malnutrition make people more vulnerable to infection and death as a result of malaria.
Of course, high illness and death rates from malaria in turn contribute to the ongoing poverty of these communities. Malarial bouts are typically two weeks on average with work productivity affected and community & family responsibilities re-distributed or neglected. Estimates indicate that malaria-effected families are able to harvest only approximately 40% of their crops compared to healthy families.
The primary goal of the project is to improve the health of communities in the Tanga regioin of Tanzania. The project aims to increase the communities’ capacity to manage education, prevention and vector control of malaria. It will also promote increased access to appropriate treatment at health clinics, with improved malaria case management.
Major Project Activities
Major project activities include:
· Educating communities about the causes, symptoms and treatment of malaria
· Increasing the number of children who are sleeping under chemically-treated mosquito nets
· Ensuring households have at least one person capable of detecting malaria symptoms
· Increasing the number of malaria cases which are diagnosed early and properly treated
· Equipping health facilities with malarial diagnostic tools
· Establishing local pharmaceutical outlets stocked with mosquito nets and malaria drugs
· Equipping villagers with the knowledge to take organised action on malaria issues, including the management of sites where mosquitoes breed
Over 216,000 people in the Tanga area will benefit through increased malarial knowledge, prevention and treatment. The sickness and mortality rates of pregnant women and children associated with malaria will fall. Communities will have the capacity to manage the spread, detection and treatment of malaria.
For every dollar given toward this project, the Australian Government’s International Development Agency, AusAID, will pledge another $3.