Our aim is to take swift action against malaria

• First, in this area, the conditions are ideal for breeding mosquitoes that carry malaria (or other diseases). Stagnant water, wet environments, and inadequate sanitation provide an optimal environment for reproduction. The lack of education and information exacerbates the situation, further promoting mosquito breeding,
• Secondly, more resources are required for effective vector control measures, including the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets or Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), eradication of mosquito breeding grounds, and enhancing access to healthcare services;
• Thirdly, accessing medical care or centres in rural and remote areas can be tough, leading to delays in diagnosing and treating malaria. This is where the Primary Medical Care Program (PMC) comes in, offering essential health and medical care directly to families where they live;
• Finally, one major issue contributing to the vulnerability of local communities to malaria is a need for more awareness about the disease and how to prevent it. Sadly, this lack of knowledge is compounded by a shortage of essential resources such as funding, personnel, transportation, time, and equipment, which hinders efforts to combat the disease and improve the quality of life for those affected. Political will may also play a role in this ongoing struggle.

As a result, many people, particularly children and pregnant women, continue to suffer from this preventable and treatable disease.

Our program aims to tackle these issues head-on by implementing various activities to strengthen malaria control efforts in the region.

It is crucial to highlight that combatting malaria demands a holistic and unified strategy encompassing preventive and therapeutic measures. It also involves initiatives to enhance the environment and living standards of communities affected by the disease.

To combat malaria, increasing community engagement and awareness through education and outreach efforts is crucial.

Fair Future can take various steps towards achieving this, such as creating brochures, posters, or visual aids that provide information about malaria, its transmission, symptoms, and prevention measures (same concept as the Kawan Sehat book you can see here). Presenting this information in the local language is essential to ensure better understanding.

In addition to this, Fair Future, Kawan Baik Indonesia and our allies will organize awareness campaigns in these high-risk regions (see the map below), targeting schools, community centres, and health facilities. This will help us reach as many people as possible and ensure that they are informed about the dangers of malaria and how to prevent it.

Apart from raising awareness, our teams on the field can provide training sessions for health workers and volunteers. These sessions can cover malaria prevention strategies, early recognition of symptoms, and available diagnostic and treatment options. By doing so, we can equip those on the front lines of healthcare with the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent and treat malaria.

Fair Future is committed to providing mosquito nets to families who do not yet have them in high-risk areas, prioritizing vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and chronically ill. The mosquito nets will ideally be impregnated with insecticide. Additionally, we will provide instructions on properly using and maintaining the nets.

Our malaria control program in East Sumba integrates Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), which involves applying insecticides to the interior surfaces of homes in areas at high risk of malaria transmission. We will collaborate with local authorities to organize IRS activities in targeted communities to make this happen. We will train and deploy qualified personnel to spray effectively in each village house.

Our goal is also to encourage participation from the community in environmental management efforts to decrease the number of mosquito breeding sites. To do this, we provide information on the risks of stagnant water in homes -especially places where farm animals are kept, such as pigs, water buffaloes, goats and horses-. We can also define a rehabilitation program for certain villages. We will also focus on improving stormwater drainage systems and sanitary facilities, which we have done for years with the #waterconnections program.

Furthermore, we educate the communities in villages severely impacted by Malaria about proper rainwater storage techniques. This is the water they rely on for daily consumption, including drinking, cooking, and eating. Currently, most water tanks are not air-tight and remain exposed to heat and sunlight, which we aim to rectify.

This initiative aims to establish temporary diagnostic and screening centres in the affected regions. It will employ rapid diagnostic tests for malaria, laboratory equipment and detection via microscope.

Our teams will be equipped with screening equipment, such as a microscope, portable electric generator, and a medical truck called the “Truck of Life”, and will conduct door-to-door visits.

Every house undergoes an analysis as part of our program. If any patients are found to be infected, they will receive the necessary medical treatment for the first seven days. We also guide families in recovering and safeguarding themselves against diseases like Malaria. Additionally, we constantly search for areas with stagnant water and assess the sanitation facilities in the villages as part of our standard protocol.

As a component of medical operations, coordinating “door-to-door” mobile units equipped with Rapid Tests is essential to reach the farthest regions. This can be integrated into the Primary Medical Care (PMC) program, which has proved highly successful. Additionally, extending Malaria screening in schools to other central locations can help identify individuals who may be suspected of having contracted the disease. Take a look at our Malaria image gallery.

It is of utmost importance to promptly provide appropriate antimalarial treatment to individuals who test positive for Malaria. As mentioned above, the first seven days of treatment can be administered directly at home during the “door-to-door” visits. It is crucial to provide clear and concise instructions to families regarding the significance of completing the prescribed medication regimen to eliminate the Malaria infection successfully.

Preparation: The local authorities have been in meetings with the Kawan Baik Indonesia and Fair Future teams for several months. We have been conducting fieldwork and are highly conscious of the situation on the ground. Furthermore, the Primary Medical Care Program (PMC) has been operational for months in response to the issue of Malaria in Sumba East.

Our main goal is to pinpoint the requirements, enhance the creation of epidemic maps, and devise straightforward, efficient, and long-lasting action plans to combat Malaria through this program.

Treatments: To improve malaria treatment, fortifying treatment centres and establishing measures that guarantee access to antimalarial drugs, Rapid Tests Kits, laboratory equipment, microscopes, and sufficient reagents are essential.

IRS: Providing materials for Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), with dedicated insecticides is also crucial to effectively control the spread of malaria. WHO highly recommended incorporating IRS as a part of an integrated vector control plan. This plan may include other techniques like insecticide-treated bed nets, larval source management, and community education programs.

Combining these methods can achieve a more comprehensive and long-lasting impact on malaria transmission.