GHEI Mosquito Net - Malaria Prevention
This project has the potential to save lives. Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in Ghana. Despite the enormous impact of malaria, prevention efforts in Bibiani District are rudimentary at best. Private individuals do not have the means or the education to protect themselves from malaria. This is compounded by the fact that the government cannot provide the nets or the needed education to the most vulnerable. The provision of insecticide treated bednets with accompanying education is a powerful and proven tool in the fight against malaria. This is a simple intervention that has the potential to drastically reduce the number of children that die from malaria each year in Bibiani District. Completed!

In the summer of 2009 Choose A Need awarded the Ghana Health and Education Initiative (GHEI) with a grant for $1,630 USD to purchase treated bednets. GHEI is a locally based NGO in Humjibre, Ghana, a farming community of about 4,000 people. The money granted from Choose A Need was able to purchase 450 treated bednets, which made a significant impact on our malaria prevention efforts in Humjibre. Malaria is one of the greatest health concerns in the community. It is a preventable and curable disease, for which treated bednets is one of the most effective way to prevent the transmission of the malaria parasite. In 2007, GHEI piloted a malaria prevention program in the neighboring community of Surano. The program consisted of trained community health workers hanging bednets to cover each sleeping area in the community in addition to providing in-home education on proper net usage and care. These community health workers also perform monthly follow-up home visits to repair nets and encourage continued use. The funds provided by Choose A Need were instrumental in extending this program to the Humjibre community in 2009. The grant was able to supply roughly 25% of the treated bednets needed. As of March 2010 70% of the Humjibre population is protected and the positive impact is already being felt. During a home visit to Hannah Mensah’s home of 20 people where 10 treated bednets were being hung she told GHEI staff, “Before the distribution we did not have nets and we would get sick with malaria. But now the mosquitoes cannot bite us at night, so we are okay. Thank you very much.” Additionally, Isaac Akwabeng, one of the local community health workers, commented that “the community is happy about the bednets because the malaria sickness has reduced since our programs began. The community is grateful to GHEI and its donors because they allow good work to be done in Humjibre. As we walk past the houses to distribute nets, we hear the excitement of the people and they give thanks to our program. ” GHEI is grateful for the support given by Choose A Need and is proud to report that Humjibre will be entirely covered by the end of May 2010.

Picture 1 - Hannah, a bednet recipient, with her family at her home.
Picture 2 - A community member (left), along with Isaac (middle), a local Community Health Worker, and Christina (right), the Health Program Coordinator, finish hanging a bednet.
Picture 3 - Isaac (left), a Community Health Worker, explains how to care for and use the bednet to a community recipient through a culturally appropriate education flipbook.
Picture 4 - Rose (left), a Community Health Worker, explains to a family how to wash and care for their new bednet.
Picture 5 - Along with Rose (right), a Community Health Worker, a family proudly displays their new bednet.