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Rwanda Strives To Stamp Out Killer Malaria Using Drones

Aimable Twahirwa

September 14, 2021 |

Rwanda Dispatch |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Kigali

A pilot program is using drones to spray anti-Malaria pesticides in high-incidence regions. The spraying drones have a 10-liter on-board tank that holds a biological insecticide, which uses bacteria that impacts larval stages of certain insects, including mosquitoes. The operator flown drone has a battery powered spray pump that releases the spray and the downward thrust of the propellers pushes it to the ground. The fixed-wing drone takes off vertically and flies horizontally for 50 minutes and 80 miles. Estimates show a drastic decline of malaria cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the sprayed areas.

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Not the 'Devil's work': Reversing Club Foot Deformities in Children

Innocent Eteng

September 13, 2021 |

Nigeria Health Watch |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

Miraclefeet is a U.S. based nonprofit that provides free clubfoot treatment in 29 countries, including 15 in Africa. Following Ponseti, a nonsurgical treatment plan, caregivers gently manipulate a child’s feet by stretching them into the correct position and using plaster of Paris to cast the foot in that position. After 5-8 weeks, children wear braces for 23 hours every day for the first three months, then only while sleeping for 3-5 years, in order to maintain the correction. The brace is made up of a special shoe that is clipped to a bar. The treatment is less expensive and 98% effective when done early.

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Improving maternal healthcare in rural Nigeria with free drugs and birthing kits

Bayo Wahab

September 09, 2021 |

Pulse Nigeria |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

Hacey Health Initiative and Alabiyamo Maternal and Child Healthcare Foundation are improving maternal and newborn health in rural communities. The groups have provided more than 50,000 birthing kits containing sterilized tools and other essentials and handed out over 100,000 long-lasting treated nets to prevent malaria. Women and infants can get medications and important vaccinations, along with clothes and baby food. The care is free and the groups work with community gatekeepers, like leaders in local markets, midwives, and other traditional birthing assistants, whose buy in is important to build trust.

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How community saves vulnerable children from hunger, malnutrition

Ojoma Akor

August 29, 2021 |

Daily Trust |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Gwagwalada

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated hunger and malnutrition of vulnerable children by crippling livelihoods and orphaning children. Two communities have responded by donating land solely devoted to growing crops to tackle hunger and malnutrition in orphans and vulnerable children. Aside from giving crops directly to families to feed children, the volunteers who work the land also sell part of each harvest to raise money for other nutritious food for the children. Part of the crops are also used to make a nutrition powder that helps ensure children are receiving the nutrients they need.

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A tall order

Marty Logan

August 28, 2021 |

Nepali Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nepal, Kathmandu

The Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Program and Nutrition Rehabilitation Home in Kathmandu provide resources to children experiencing, or at risk for, malnutrition, which has long been a life-threatening issue in Nepal.

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From 30 Million Cases to Zero

David Byrne

August 27, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: China

China’s path to officially eliminating malaria began in the 1950s when a scientist in a government-funded program discovered the ancient Chinese herb Wormwood had been used to treat symptoms for centuries and went on to make the world’s top treatment. Effective coordination across many agencies, treating stagnant water, and widespread use of insecticide nets also limited cases. Today China uses the “1-3-7” method where local agencies are told of any likely case within one day, the case is confirmed within three days, and measures are taken to treat the patient and prevent further spread within seven days.

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COVID-19: Lessons from Polio Eradication

Charles Besidonne

August 19, 2021 |

The Republic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative coordinated a coalition of national governments and nonprofits to eradicate polio and may provide lessons for administering COVID-19 vaccines. GPEI helped with funding and the procurement and supply of vaccines. A network of local partners carried out vaccination initiatives and designed micro-planning strategies to reach high-risk relevant populations. Nigeria built cold chain storage, transport, and distribution systems to handle the polio vaccine, as well as a vaccine accountability management system that monitors and tracks vials throughout vaccine administration.

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Expanded Silver Alert system helps those with developmental disabilities

Gianluca D'Elia

August 05, 2021 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Arizona

Three years after Arizona added people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to the list of people who can trigger a public alert when they go missing, advocates say the state enjoys better coordination from one community to the next. While the numbers aren't tracked, advocates say many people on the autism spectrum or with other disabilities have been quickly found and returned to safety. The state expanded its Silver Alert program, originally for missing seniors, and other states are starting to follow suit. An alert can result in notifications by phone, news and social media, and highway signs.

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How Bijapur fought acute malnutrition through millets and decentralisation

Sameer Showkin Lone

August 04, 2021 |

101 Reporters |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: British Indian Ocean Territory, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

In the district of Bijapur, a town in India, there was a malnutrition rate of 40 per cent in 2019. In order to tackle the problem officials identified the areas with high malnutrition and directed their efforts to those places. They introduced nutrient rich millets in child care centers. They also created kitchen gardens to provide the community with access to fresh vegetables. Finally, they brought Nutrient Rehabilitation Centers in the community since parents were hesitant to take their children to them. Two years later, malnutrition rates dropped by 12 percent.

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How a gene machine boosts fight against TB in Kenya

George Juma

August 01, 2021 |

Sayansi Magazine |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya

The GeneXpert machine is being used to diagnose tuberculosis earlier, and can identify strains that are receptive to common medications as opposed to drug-resistant strains. The machine tests samples by extracting and amplifying genes. Based on the bacterium load in a sample, it reports whether there are low or high amounts of TB detected and has the capacity to test four gene samples at the same time with a 90-minute period. Because of early and accurate detection, drug-resistant cases have reduced nationwide, saving people the trauma of prolonged and expensive treatments for drug-resistant strains.

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