“Beating the drum against Malaria: Ending Malaria for good begins at home”

Africa Humanitarian Action, in collaboration with UNHCR, has conducted a one day mass awareness session on Malaria in Little Wlebo camp on April 27th, 2016, in recognition of World Malaria Day (WMD).
WHO designated April, 25th as World Malaria Day (WMD), since 2007, to enforce countries to take the opportunity to improve mass awareness, provide universal access to diagnostic and treatment supplies, and secures availability of consistent funding, to prevent malaria among the vulnerable.
Malaria has been the oldest disease known to humanity. In the Ivorian refugee camps across Liberia, malaria has remained number one cause of outpatient visit by the refugee community. Nevertheless, Liberia as a country endemic to the disease has shown no reluctance as malaria is a number one cause of out-patient visit and number one cause of in-patient mortality.
In the past few decades, advancement in research and technology has succeed inculcating new methods and techniques on diagnosis and treatment on malaria, hence has put a dent in reducing the burden of the disease, but there still remains a significant challenge to subdue Malaria to end its sufferings.
This year WMD global theme is “End malaria for good” and the theme chosen for LW Refugee Camp was, “Beating the drum against Malaria: Ending Malaria for Good begins at home”. This theme is chosen to reinforce community engagement, in the effort towards ending malaria sufferings.
At the event, different activities took place to motivate the refugee communities to protect themselves from Malaria, by promoting personal and environmental hygiene, sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets, early medical seeking behavior. Furthermore, messages were delivered by the Health & WASH coordinator and partners emphasizing on the need for community engagement on prevention activities and reducing burden on the disease among children, under the age of five and pregnant women.
Africa Humanitarian Action effort was also appreciated by the central refugee leadership chair lady, who reinforced the health messages to the refugee community.