Anti- Malaria Project “NetsforLife” expands coverage and takes on new team members.

Geoffry Tamutamu

The Nets for Life Programme has expanded into the Chikwawa district and has appointed two new members of field staff to work in that widespread area, Idola Matola and William Sulumba . Also joining the team is Data Entry Officer Allan Kalande who will be based in Diocesan headquarters.

On Monday 4 May these new members of the team arrived forthe first week of an intensive training course based at Diocesan headquarters. Mr Gerald Nakoma from the Chickwawa District Hospital attended as trainer and facilitator. Fr.Thomas Mwela from Nsanje parish, where the programme has been running since January 2007 joined the group to contribute from his experience, and gather new information.

The aim of the course was to enhance participants’ understanding of not just Malaria issues, but the wide range of medical conditions and symptoms they might encounter whilst working with individuals and families in our communities.

The session was co-ordinated by Mr Geoffrey Tamutamu, Diocesan Health Officer assisted by Father Willard Kamandani. Training continued over several weeks with workshop sessions interspersed with supervised experience in the field. From 8 June the new recruits were introduced to their postings in the field; equipped with brand new motor cycles an additional challenge for one member.

the first training session. a bedroom at diocesan HQ doubles up as a seminar room

wall charts showing the operational districts, and key points from a training session

As part of the expansion programme NetsforLife project has since 15 June trained 110 Health Surveillance Assistants from the traditional authorities of Chapananga and Ngabu. The 3 days training focussed on malaria prevention, treatment, community mobilisation , monitoring and evaluation . Health Surveillance Assistants play a great role in prevention of disease at the Community Level as they are directly in contact with community members hence this will greatly contribute to reducing the incidence of malaria.