By Wezzie Banda, WV Malawi
Evinesi Taimu, Britney’s mother, used to wake up very early in the morning to make sure that she got her sick child to the clinic on time. Evinesi is in a queue carrying Britney on her lap as they wait to receive malaria treatment.
Britney Taimu, 5, lives with her parents and five siblings in a small village located in Chingale, in Zomba district, Malawi. The house in which she stays looks very small and is made from simple materials including mud and grass.
Kenesi and Evinesi Taimu, Britney’s father and mother, are farmers by occupation. For years, the couple has been growing crops including maize, cassava, and groundnuts, which they consume at home and also sell at the market.
In July 2010, the family faced a painful circumstance as their youngest daughter, Britney, was severely affected by malaria, one of the most deadly diseases in Africa.
The young girl sweated and vomited a lot, had some recurring fever and her body was growing frail.
“I was not sure whether my child was going to live,” explains her mother, Evinesi. “Her body temperature went extremely high and she was gasping for air.”
Evinesi is thankful to medical personnel at Chingale Health Clinic who attended to her sickly child on time. Besides this, she also gives credit to World Vision for the mosquito nets her family received through the local clinic.
Malaria, which is spread by mosquito, remains the largest killer in Malawi and other countries in Africa. Expectant women and children, particularly those below the age of five are the most vulnerable. However, the disease does not discriminate as both young and old are affected.
In trying to combat the disease, World Vision Malawi has been distributing mosquito nets to communities, families, and children in Chingale Area Development Program.
“In 2009, the organization distributed about 2,196 long lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (ITNs) to community members. These nets were distributed through government health centres and community workers. World Vision is planning to distribute more nets this year,” explains Mr. Osman Banda, one of World Vision’s field workers.
Evinesi recalls how she used to wake up very early in the morning to make sure that she gets in front of the queue at the clinic when her children were sick and before she received the nets.
“I used to wake up as early as 3 o’clock in the morning to cover a distance of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) to the clinic. I was carrying my sick children on my back and life was really tough. I am now relieved since World Vision brought us these nets,” she explains.
Realizing how important mosquito nets are, Britney makes sure that hers is always kept safe. “Mosquito nets protect us and it feels good to sleep under them,” says the young girl.
