MOZAMBIQUE / MALARIA

UNICEF's distribution of mosquito nets in Mozambique is helping in the reduction of malaria cases, the biggest killer of children in Africa. The disease is responsible for an estimated 600,000 deaths each year in the continent. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:19
• Production Date: 20 August 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HEALTH SERVICES; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL
• Geographic Subject: MOZAMBIQUE
• MAMS Id: U110820b

Description

STORY: MOZAMBIQUE / MALARIA
TRT: 3:19
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: PORTUGUESE / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: APRIL 2011, NHAMADZI, GORGONGORA, DISTRICT

Shotlist

1. Tilt down, from sky to tree Nhamadzi Clinic District of Gorongosa
2. Close up, Sonia Tomacene educating people about nets.
3. Close up, family test net out
4. Wide shot of mosquito net
5. Med shot, people watching
6. Close up, through crowd of Sonia Tomacene
7. SOUNDBITE (Portugese) Sonia Tomocene, nurse at Gorongosa District:
“People now understand the importance of nets. Because even when, for example, there has been a shortage in stock of free nets people now go out and buy nets in the market. Because the nets which have here are only for pregnant woman, the people that come for consultation don’t have access, so we tell them to buy them at the market. They understand their importance.”
8. Med shot, Sonia shows Regina net demo
9. Close up, picture of net
10. Med shot, Sonia hands over net
11. Med shot, two chat with net
12. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Regina Charles, 20 years old:
“This child was suffering with malaria. He was really sick so we came to the Health Clinic where they gave us medication for him and then he recovered. And we were then told that we should sleep inside a mosquito net to prevent malaria.”
13. Med shot, Regina leaves clinic
14. Med shto, community volunteer inspect village
15. Close up, volunteer inspecting village
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Arild Drivdal UNICEF Mozambique:
“Here in Gorongosa there has been a 21 percent reduction in malaria since mass distribution started. It’s a very strong indication that every child needs a net to save their life.”
17. Close up, thumb being pricked
18. Close up, upset boy
19. SOUNDBITE (Portugese) Sonia Tomocene, nurse at Gorongosa District:
“We did tests for malaria and it gave a positive reading so we will put him on treatment. He is going to take two in the morning, two at night. Two tomorrow morning, two at night, two the following morning, two at night until he is finished.”
20. Med shot, boy takes medicine and leaves
21. Med shot, queues outside for malaria tests

Storyline

Under a tree deep in rural Mozambique Sonia Tomocene is spreading the good news. The biggest killer of children in Africa is a disease that can be defeated.

Getting families to sleep under mosquito nets and providing those nets for free is transforming the fight against malaria.

SOUNDBITE (Portugese) Sonia Tomocene, Nurse, Gorongosa District:
“People now understand the importance of nets. Because even when, for example, there has been a shortage in stock of free nets people now go out and buy nets in the market. Because the nets which have here are only for pregnant woman, the people that come for consultation don’t have access, so we tell them to buy them at the market. They understand their importance.”

Malaria is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and young children, so Regina has come in for a consultation with her two year old son.

She’s talked through how best to use her net. This district is part of a pilot project, which has seen over seventy thousand nets handed out free.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Regina Charles, 20 years old:
“This child was suffering with malaria. He was really sick so we came to the health clinic where they gave us medication for him and then he recovered. And we were then told that we should sleep inside a mosquito net to prevent malaria.”

Nets are only part of the solution. This community volunteer is working to try and control the number of mosquitoes. That means – teaching people to keep their villages free of rubbish and standing water.

With greater awareness and use of nets has had some dramatic results.

SOUNDBITE (English) Arild Drivdal UNICEF Mozambique:
“Here in Gorongosa there has been a 21 percent reduction in malaria since mass distribution started. It’s a very strong indication that every child needs a net to save their life.”

For now malaria remains a real problem – and a huge burden on Mozambique’s threadbare health system.

Sonia is the only nurse at this clinic, so having provided public education and consultations she then tackles the huge queue waiting for malaria tests.

When the pain subsides for eight-year-old Wisinerm, there’s an instant diagnosis.

SOUNDBITE (Portugese) Sonia Tomocene, Nurse, Gorongosa District:
“We did tests for malaria and it gave a positive reading so we will put him on treatment. He is going to take two in the morning, two at night. Two tomorrow morning, two at night. Two the following morning, two at night until he is finished."

Wisinerm should get better. But with big strides now being made in the prevention of the disease ambition is now growing.

The talk now is not just controlling malaria but defeating it altogether.