Malaria prevention billboards installed across East Sumba
20 billboards deliver lifesaving malaria messages to rural families
Clear messages, vital knowledge, and visual education work together to fight malaria in the most affected areas.
Two weeks ago, the Fair Future Foundation, in partnership with Rotary International, Rotary Australia, Malaria Partners International, and Kawan Baik Indonesia, installed 20 malaria prevention billboards across East Sumba. These large-scale visuals convey essential knowledge where it is most needed: in villages with some of the highest malaria transmission rates in Indonesia.
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a leading cause of illness and death in this region. Families often lack access to diagnostic tools, preventive measures, or accurate information. Misconceptions, such as believing that fever will pass, too often delay treatment, increasing the risk of severe or fatal outcomes.
Each billboard is designed with culturally relevant visuals and simple language, allowing children, parents, and older people to grasp key points: using insecticide-treated nets, preventing mosquito breeding in stagnant water, recognising early symptoms, and seeking treatment promptly. Education of this kind is not a luxury; it is one of the most effective interventions against malaria.
Scientific studies confirm that community awareness has a direct impact on lowering infection rates. By reinforcing protective behaviours daily, these billboards remind families that malaria is preventable and treatable when action is taken early.
This initiative is part of the East Sumba Malaria Prevention Project 2025, a broader programme that includes Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets, laboratory training for accurate diagnosis, and community-based health education. With these 20 billboards, over 3,000 people are reached every day, making prevention a visible reality.
Malaria elimination requires tangible action. Visual education is one of the strongest tools to break the transmission chain, save lives, and build healthier communities.
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 – September 29th, 2025
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