330,000 bed nets distributed to
protect pregnant women and children

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In Zanzibar, over 330,000 bed nets have been distributed to protect pregnant women and children during the last two years. These nets have been treated with long lasting insecticides. This has led to a significant decrease in the number of people falling sick. Also, the cost of malaria to the country has been significantly reduced, because hospitals are reporting a 30% drop in malaria cases. Awareness within communities has also been increased through innovative ways such as preaching in Mosques about malaria prevention and the use of bed nets in order to address the male population. “We regard the mosque teachers as partners because they help us to create awareness and ensure that bed nets are well used, with good results,” says Dr. Abdullah Ali, a programme manager with the Ministry of Health, which implements this programme supported by the Global Fund, on behalf of the Government of Zanzibar. Safia Mohamed, a housewife living in Stone Town recently accompanied her six year old daughter to pick up a bed net. Listen to their story.

"Since she got the bed net, I have only taken her to hospital twice within the last two years- and not because she had malaria. I now use the money that I would have spent in hospital to feed her better."