|
 |
The most proven and cost-effective way to prevent malaria is by sleeping under a treated mosquito net. Since 2003, the Canadian Red Cross has distributed over seven million nets in 12 Africa countries. The nets are coupled with community-based awareness and education campaigns to ensure effectiveness and a basic understanding of how to combat the disease. The strength of the Canadian Red Cross malaria program is largely based on the work of volunteers from local Red Cross Societies. These volunteers are part of the communities they serve, speak the local languages and understand the cultural barriers that may prevent families from taking the steps necessary to prevent and treat malaria. Volunteers ensure that community members know what the disease is and its symptoms, where to go for treatment and how to properly hang and care for mosquito nets. To date, the Canadian Red Cross has trained over 27,000 African Red Cross volunteers. A recent project in Kenya partnered the Canadian Red Cross with the Kenyan Red Cross, Kenyan Ministry of Health and Canadian International Development Agency to train and mobilize local Red Cross volunteers to provide artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) drugs in remote communities with poor access to health services. This drug combination is the most effective treatment for those who have contracted malaria. A child can die within 24 hours of their first symtom so access to rapid treatment is vital. This program expanded upon the already successful Canadian Red Cross efforts to combat malaria in Africa. The fight against malaria is having a positive impact in Africa – but our work is far from over. The Canadian Red Cross continues to work closely with African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide communities with the education and tools needed to prevent and treat this deadly disease. You Make the Difference – Support Canadian Red Cross International Programs Posted: April 14, 2011 |
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
