SFH boosts govt’s fight against malaria

As the Ministry of Health steps up the fight against the number one killer disease in Africa, Rwanda in particular, Malaria, Society for Family Health Rwanda (SFH) is innovatively working with Rwandans through their associations to create public awareness about malaria prevention and treatment.

An example is Nkubito Mubahizi Association, a voluntary grouping working in Bugesera District under SFH Rwanda to train residents in Mayange sector about Malaria prevention and treatment. The association is housed at Mayange Sector offices Jean Baptiste Ntwali, the association member is a resident of Mayange and a health representative of SFH Rwanda. He and so many others have benefited from Trainings of Trainers (ToTs) that are regularly offered by SFH Rwanda on Malaria Prevention. Despite Ntwali’s community roles and responsibilities, operating on behalf of SFH, he too has a family of two children and a loving mother.

“My family last contracted malaria in 2002. Thanks to the training I got about malaria prevention. When I got the net I used it and asked for advice where I needed and thanks to that, my family is malaria free till today,” Ntari said. Following the training, he joined the association and became a representative of a cell in Mayange where he lives. He moves door to door sensitising neighbours about how to prevent and treat malaria.

Elias Twagiramungu, the president of the association, which started a year ago, says to-date, it is one of the associations that help out the most in Bugesera region.

This association has many representatives in different sectors that help in spreading and getting information to people easily and quickly.

“We have a lot of health related activities and malaria prevention is one of them. But all these activities have been aided by Society of Family Health (SHF),” he said. “With malaria, awareness is the most we can do as the mosquito nets have already been supplied to the people.”