Kenya (2010) – Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada

Preventing the spread of malaria in Kenya

Goal: $50,000 Cdn

Project

Diocese of Maseno, Kenya

We are thrilled to announce that ARDFC’s initial project is partnering with the Anglican Diocese of Maseno West in malaria prevention. This project will educate volunteer health workers, students, pregnant women and mothers about malaria prevention and provide insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted by infected mosquitoes. This project will reduce illness and infant mortality among the most vulnerable – women and children in Kenya. The World Health Organization notes that malaria caused nearly one million deaths in 2006 – mostly among African children.

About Malaria

The World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on malaria states:

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
There were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006 [worldwide], causing nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.
A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

Malaria is preventable and curable.
Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries.
Malaria takes an economic toll – cutting economic growth rates by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates… Because of its considerable drag on health in low-income countries, malaria disease management is an essential part of global health development.

Mosquito-borne malaria is one of the major public health issues in Kenya, with high transmission rates in the Western region. Unemployment is high and for the poor there is little access to medical care or education on hygiene, leaving pregnant women, nursing mothers and children especially vulnerable to malaria.

About the Anglican Relief & Development Fund Canada (ARDFC)

ARDFC is a registered Canadian charity, associated with ARDF Global. It undertakes carefully selected and monitored aid projects in partnership with Anglican dioceses in developing nations. See our website www.ardfc.ca for more information.