Comprehensive malaria prevention initiative in East Sumba safeguards thousands of families
Training, spraying, nets, and education work together to combat malaria in rural Indonesia.
Fair Future’s medical teams conduct malaria and infectious disease screenings for nearly 9,000 people. This photo captures our commitment to early detection and community-based care.
Three months of action against one of the world’s deadliest diseases
Malaria remains a serious global health issue, especially in regions like East Sumba, Indonesia, where transmission rates stay stubbornly high. That is why the Fair Future Foundation, in partnership with Malaria Partners International, Rotary and Kawan Baik Indonesia, has launched the East Sumba Malaria Prevention Project 2025.
Over three months, this programme combines laboratory training, mosquito control, education, and the distribution of protective nets to save lives and improve community health, from August to October, to reduce malaria’s impact.
A study completed earlier this year in Umalulu identified significant transmission hotspots, coupled with low community awareness and limited diagnostic capacity. Our goal is to tackle these issues through an inclusive strategy focusing on education, prevention, and strengthening laboratory services.
What We Will Do
- Training for Laboratory Analysts: A team of 28 participants will receive specialised training from WHO-certified mentors in malaria slide reading, rapid diagnostic testing, and microscope maintenance. This training will improve diagnostic accuracy and enable timely, effective treatment.
- Community Awareness: Through educational sessions and eye-catching billboards, this campaign aims to engage over 1,000 people directly and reach many more indirectly. The goal is to dispel misconceptions about malaria and promote early health-seeking behaviours.
- Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS): Using WHO-approved insecticides, high-risk households will undergo IRS to eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes, significantly reducing local transmission.
- Distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets: The initiative will distribute 146 new long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to complement the 320 nets already given out in the region. These nets provide continuous protection for families every night for over five years.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuous data collection, field reporting, and active community participation will ensure transparency and achieve effective results.
The project will focus on Umalulu, Laitipi, and Waingapu Districts, particularly targeting children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Indirectly, more than 270,000 residents across East Sumba will benefit from increased awareness and preventative measures.
This effort is coordinated with Swiss expertise and is a key part of the 2028 Malaria Elimination Roadmap. By enhancing laboratory capacity, safeguarding households, and empowering local communities, the Fair Future Foundation and Kawan Baik Indonesia are committed to making East Sumba malaria-free in the long term.
Fighting malaria is a relentless pursuit. Every trained health worker, every household treated, and every child protected by a net represents a life saved. On the anniversary of Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery, both foundations reaffirm their commitment: malaria can be eradicated—but only through sustained collective action and unwavering resolve.
Today, the 22nd of August 2025 – Alex Wettstein
- Download the full East Sumba Malaria Prevention Project 2025 document here and explore all details of this life-saving initiative.
In Short – Fighting Malaria, Protecting Lives
Over three months, Fair Future and Kawan Baik will intensify the fight against malaria in East Sumba. Laboratory analysts will be trained for precise diagnosis, high-risk homes will be sprayed, and hundreds of families will sleep under insecticide-treated nets. More than a campaign, this project strengthens community health, safeguards children and mothers, and brings East Sumba closer to a malaria-free future. Click here for more information
List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks
- Malaria Partners International (MPI): Global network mobilising Rotary and partners to eliminate malaria through education, prevention, and community-based action.
- World Health Organisation (WHO): Provides global standards, strategies, and resources for malaria prevention, treatment, and elimination.
- Roll Back Malaria Partnership: Coordinates global action to end malaria through policy, research, and advocacy.
- Malaria No More: International NGO working to end malaria with innovative programmes and public awareness campaigns.
- Rotary International: Engages clubs worldwide in funding and implementing malaria prevention and health projects.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Authoritative source for malaria diagnosis, prevention guidelines, and surveillance data.
