"help us fight malaria"

MEDS AND NETS is a program within Think Humanity, a non-profit organization whose mission is "to provide a positive change for refugees in Africa."

Malaria is a disease of the blood that is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. Malaria is preventable and treatable. To fight this disease, we must provide children, orphans, elderly and the poor with treated bed nets and make anti-malaria drugs, such as Coartem, available.

There are other organizations fighting malaria, but we are the only organization leading the fight against malaria in the Kyangwali Refugee Camp and the Acholi Quarter Camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in  Uganda. The refugees have been forced into  camps due to war.

Since December 2007 Think Humanity has distributed more than 13,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets. The majority of the  beneficiaries have been from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and the Acholi. In order to continue to help refugees, we need your continued support.

A survey and project retrospective follows each distribution. A survey was conducted in September 2009 and the result was 88% effectiveness. Based on another MaNdate statistical study made by two board members in January 2010, the incidence of malaria has been reduced greatly. This study interviewed a statistically significant sample of Kyangwali residents, covering over 120 individuals. The "A-B" comparison between after and before LLIN usage revealed an over 80% improvement (range=25-100%). As evidenced by the data, our process is controlled and it works.

• An African child under the age of five dies from malaria every 30 seconds.
• Fewer than 3 percent of children at risk for malaria are shielded by insecticide-treated nets. Malaria kills more than one million people per year; 90 percent of those who die are African children.
• The first signs of malaria are usually fever, aching and headache. Malaria may also cause a variety of symptoms and as a result is easily confused with other common illnesses. Untreated malaria can lead to severe anemia, organ damage, convulsions, coma and death.
• Malaria incapacitates people, keeping countries poor. In addition to the health burden, malaria illness and death cost Africa about $12 billion per year.
• In Africa, 25 million pregnant women and their newborns a year are exposed to anemia, low birth weight and die.
• Malaria continues to be a leading cause of death among refugees. In 2007, malaria accounted for 21% of the total reported deaths and 26% of deaths in children under five years of age. Malaria was responsible for 23% of the total morbidity and 25% of under five morbidity. Eisa Hamouda, UNHCR
• On the Kyangwali Refugee Camp, many people who need and want nets cannot afford them. A refugee earns approximately 33 cents a day on average by digging. However, complications from malaria lead to absenteeism from work and school and consumes about 54 percent of a refugee's annual income. -Wereje Benson, refugee in the Kyangwali Settlement Camp and Think Humanity Program Manager. Statistics specific to Kyangwali.

A young boy in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement Camp lays in his hut suffering from malaria with no medication.

MALARIA IS PREVENTABLE AND TREATABLE

• Insecticide-treated nets have proven highly effective in killing mosquitoes and preventing malaria transmission. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, widespread use of treated bed nets has been shown to reduce transmission of the disease by about 90 percent.
• Using anti-malarial drugs can eradicate malaria symptoms in three days.
• Indoor Residual Spraying (spraying insecticide on the inside walls of houses) kills female mosquitoes when they rest on sprayed surfaces after feeding on a person, reducing malaria transmission to others. (Think Humanity has never sprayed huts) 

January 2009 net demonstration

January 2010 net demonstration. Wereje Benson, program manager on left.

Think Humanity donated bed nets in January 2009 and again in June 2009 to the refugees infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. One of the women said, "I thank you very much this family called Think Humanity for the care they give us. All our lives we have never got time or life like this moment because the mosquito nets you gave us, it has reduced malaria on this side."

University of Colorado pre-med student Charity Watson and Catherine, a midwife from Azur Clinic, trained more than 40 health workers and "safe" mothers (mid-wives) in Kyangwali on safe and healthy birthing practices. Charity demonstrates how to use a birthing kit. Birthing Kit Foundaiton of Australia gave Think Humanity a grant for 200 kits. (Jan '10) and an additional 200 kits that will be distributed in July 2010.

Vitamin Angels has donated 4,500 doses of Vitamin A for refugee children in Kyangwali. The Vitamin A will go towards children ages 6 months to 5 years and will be distributed in July 2010.

As of August 2009, Think Humanity has partnered with Azur Christian Clinic to provide medical assistance to students at the Girls' Hoima Hostel and the orphans at the Coburwas Learning Center. Upon discretion, we also help treat boys at the Boys' Hoima Hostel. TH also has funded surgeries and care for the students at the local Hoima hospital.

TH is now purchasing medication through a "Joint Medical Store" and has an on site nurse at the Girls' Hoima Hostel. Azur Clinic will be used for laboratory work and more complicated cases.

Think Humanity is working with COBURWAS Club volunteers, students and the community of Kyangwali so that together we can help eliminate the economic burden, suffering and death caused by malaria. 

"Insecticide treated nets are one of the most cost-effective interventions we have in medicine.  There are several initiatives focused on getting these nets to Africa, but so far displaced persons have been 'left out' of the picture.  One advantage of your program as well is that you don't just 'dump' the nets- (many studies show that nets are often improperly used).  Again, you have that community piece built in." - Eileen Birmingham, John Hopkins

"After fighting malaria in Kyangwali Refugee Camp then; The death rate and number of orphans will reduce giving us a happy life. People will be healthy, energetic, and hard working, therefore produce enough food. The money which could be spent on malaria treatment will be channeled to education therefore restoring hope, peace, and prosperity."  -Daniel Muhwezi, refugee in the Kyangwali Settlement and Think Humanity Secretary/Treasurer

"The hope should be restored through Think Humanity, because it has put malaria in mortuary about to be buried soon. Through providing nets, medication and comfort to those who are sick, now malaria will have nowhere to go."   -Mwamini Pelagia, refugee

All statistics and facts are from the Centers of Disease Control website. www.cdc.gov, unless otherwise stated.

With your donation of $5 we can purchase a long-lasting insecticide treated bed net.  We can also purchase anti-malarial medication such as Coartem. Thank you for your donation.

Since December 2007, Think Humanity has distributed more than 13,000 mosquito nets to refugees in Uganda. Thank you Global Healing, Mountain View Rotary of Loveland, Overlooked and Red Empress Foundation. Also thank you to the individual donors, the Paulsen and Bergholz families of Colorado and many others.

Read an article about malaria written by Aimee Heckel Markwardt, Think Humanity Board member

Malaria: Baby Aimee

Pictured: Bahati Aimee, June 2008 in hospital with malaria

This young girl has mouth ulcers, a symptom from malaria.

Emmanuel Nsabimana, Project Manager Meds and Nets

Think Humanity promo video

MaNdate 7 January 2010 net demonstration

June 2009 MaNdate 6 Net distribution in Nyamiganda Village, Kyangwali

 Mosquito net distribution in Kyangwali Settlement. This distribution was to the Acholi of Northern Uganda and South Sudan (also known as The Invisible Children)

Thank you for giving us mosquito nets - girl's at hostel in Hoima.