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Malaria Control |
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Malaria is the number one health challenge for people living in the Lake Victoria Region of Tanzania. According to UN estimates, one child in Africa dies every 30 seconds from malaria. It accounts for 1 in 5 childhood deaths. GRA is responding to this crisis by promoting and subsidizing the use of a homeopathic neem tincture effective in preventing malaria and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated mosquito bed Nets (LLITNs) - through what we call the Buzz-Off Malaria Campaign. Neem tincture In 2005, GRA introduced a homeopathic neem tincture in the Lake Victoria region that was originally developed by the Abha Light Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya for the prevention and cure of malaria. This homeopathic remedy is an ethanol based tincture carrying the medicinal properties of neem leaves. The tincture is easily produced, and a six-month supply for one individual in Tanzania costs only about 40 cents US. GRA is training small groups to produce
the homeopathic neem tincture to offer for sale within their communities.
We are also supporting studies in the region conducted by a local
MD, Dr. Makuke, to determine the preparation's effectiveness. The
region's top public health officer has also expressed interest in
the use of neem drops and would like to involve the government in
further studies. Preliminary data suggests that the neem tincture
is highly effective for malaria prevention, as well as in treating
patients with chronic malaria. Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) There are a couple difficulties with this type of net, however. One is the fact that they need to be re-treated every 2 to 4 months to remain effective. Often, this step is skipped by users who either don't realize the importance of re-treating their net, or can't easily afford the frequent purchase of additional insecticides. Even when nets are re-treated, the residual insecticides are usually improperly disposed of and find their way into the local environment. Another drawback is the net's relatively short useful life of just 2 to 3 years. In the last few years, to overcome these shortcomings, Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) were developed. These nets, originally from Japan but now manufactured in Tanzania, have permethrin, an insecticide deemed safe for children by the World Health Organization, embedded in tough plastic fiber. Their insecticidal properties remain effective for about five years, which is also the life span of the net. GRA has subsidized an average of about 85% of the LLITN's US$ 7.00 purchase price for over 5,000 families living in Musoma and Kinesi Village. Since 2 to 3 people generally sleep under the same mosquito net, the total number of individuals benefiting is considerably higher. Much remains to be done, however, as only
a small percentage - some estimates as low as 1% - of the children
in Africa sleep under mosquito bed nets. GRA will continue to raise
funds to address the challenge of malaria far into the future. |
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Musa John receiving homeopathic neem drops
