Building malaria prevention billboards in East Sumba
Simple images that teach how to recognise fever, chills, and danger.
At our base camp in Waingapu, the dedicated teams of Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia are hard at work. With limited resources, every plank, screw, and rope is a treasure that must be adapted to our needs. Our commitment to fighting malaria leads us to prepare by hand because no large machinery can assist us here.
The twenty billboard frames being constructed carry crucial messages about malaria. Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, can be prevented and managed with the correct information. Our billboards provide information on recognising malaria symptoms such as fever, chills, and headaches, as well as guidance on what steps to take if multiple family members fall ill.
Prevention is key, and our messages promote indoor residual spraying, using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, early testing after mosquito bites, and maintaining cleanliness to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
For three arduous days, the Truck n’Load journeyed across East Sumba’s challenging landscapes, collaborating with local health authorities, villagers, and children. We selected 10 strategic locations—markets, schools, and churches—to ensure our health messages reached the widest possible audience.
Working under the beams of headlamps till midnight, we mixed concrete by hand. Under the Kawan Against Malaria program, with the support of Rotary and Malaria Partners International, these towering billboards now stand resilient, conveying vital information to thousands of families in areas with limited medical resources.
We cordially invite all captivated by this story to explore our photo gallery, witness this extraordinary effort, and further engage with our mission through our Instagram account.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – the 19th of November, 2025
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