A Healthy Malaria-Free Life Campaign

Drawing on Pathfinder's global experience in malaria prevention and treatment, a Healthy Malaria-Free Life is working to improve maternal and child health and address malaria morbidity and mortality by:

• providing training for maternal health providers in Cacuaco and Kilamba Kiaxi municipalities, focusing on pre and post-natal care and family planning with sessions on malaria prevention and treatment for pregnant women;
• distributing informational materials and facilitating behaviour change workshops about malaria prevention and family planning for distribution in the health facilities and communities, including an information leaflet [PDF] about avoiding mosquito bites;
• providing training for community agents to connect health providers and those they serve;
• organising community activities around malaria, malaria prevention, and the need for pregnant women to be especially vigilant during their pregnancies;
• supporting community agents to conduct home visits and discussions in key community gathering places; and
• training new delivery staff in the wards to provide insecticide treated nets for malaria prevention, voluntary counselling and testing services for HIV and AIDS, postpartum family planning services, vitamin supplementation, and quality care.

Malaria

According to Pathfinder, over the past few decades, the number of incidents and deaths from malaria have risen substantially, fuelling poverty, impeding development, and posing an enormous health, social, and economic burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 40% of the world population is at risk of malaria infection, 90% in Africa. Worldwide, there are approximately 250 million clinical cases of malaria, which result in approximately one million deaths each year. These preventable deaths affect mostly children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Angola, malaria is one of the most important underlying causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The maternal mortality ratio in Angola - 1,400 women die per 100,000 live births - is the highest in Africa and the third highest in the world. The Ministry of Health recently reported that malaria accounts for approximately 25% of maternal mortality and is the cause of nearly 10% of pregnant women's hospital admissions.