Malaria Dialogue Education - West Africa

This malaria education module consists in a community-based education plan designed to engage primary caregivers (mostly mothers) in a dialogue about how to prevent and treat malaria. This dialogue will focus on early detection in children so that prompt treatment can be sought. It will also promote the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets as a primary means of preventing malaria. Finally, it will challenge women to think about protecting another vulnerable group - pregnant women - via prevention and rapid action for treatment. Organisers hope to reach over 115,000 women - and their 500,000 family members - in West Africa.

GSK, a producer of anti-retroviral and anti-malarial drugs, will provide technical expertise to Freedom from Hunger for this initiative, along with financial support.

Health, Children, Women.

Malaria is one of the leading killers of children. According to organisers, more than one million people will die from malaria in 2002, with one out of every 20 African children dying of the disease before their fifth birthday.

Founded as Meals for Millions in 1946, FFH is a non-profit organisation based in California, USA. FFH's programmes focus on low-income women from rural areas and work in partnership with indigenous organisations to develop innovative solutions to increase household food security and health. Malaria Dialogue Education will piggyback on FFH's Credit for Education programme, which operates in rural regions of 15 economically deprived countries worldwide. Credit with Education provides women with microfinance services (access to very small cash loans and savings) along with participatory education to learn about better health, nutrition, and sound business strategies. Credit with Education reaches more than 217,000 women through partnership with 25 collaborating organisations.