"The Sierra Leone survey clearly shows how Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies involved in the fight against malaria can make a difference to achieve lasting results" he added.
Last year, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worked in partnership to distribute 2.5 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, including 1.8 million in Mali and 490,000 in Madagascar. In 2008, they will deliver some 1.5 million nets targeting 2.2 million children in India, Togo, Mozambique, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Central Africa Republic, Nigeria, and Rwanda.
"We are supporting the distribution of nets in partnership but the role of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers goes far beyond distribution" explained Jason Peat, senior health officer for malaria at the International Federation in Geneva.
"Immediately following a mass distribution and again before the start of the rainy season, our volunteers go door-to-door to households that received a net to make sure that it is properly hung and that children under five and pregnant women sleep under it. If there is a newborn or newly pregnant woman in the household, the volunteer refers the family to the nearest health facility to receive a new net and teaches the family how to use the net."
"It is through this kind of community-based efforts that Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies can make a major contribution to the fight against malaria which kills more than 3,000 children every day in the world" concludes Jason Peat.
Source: Relief Web
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