Rising death rate: group takes fight against malaria to high-burdened rural Nigerian communities

Aid Access is a telemedicine service that connects people in red states with abortion pills. The goal of Aid Access — and similar nonprofits that have emerged since the overturning of Roe v. Wade — is to ensure that abortion pills are affordable and that the most vulnerable people can access them.

The Kwara Initiative provides free rapid test kits and treatment for malaria to over 500 public health centers in the state. The initiative also issued the State Malaria Elimination Program, which works to help control cases of malaria in the state. So far, over 5,000 households have benefitted from the free malaria treatment.

Direct primary care clinics offer more affordable healthcare and direct access to doctors without added costs or long wait times. Though direct primary care isn’t a replacement for traditional insurance, it makes healthcare — including doctor visits, medications and even X-ray imaging — more accessible and affordable, particularly for those who can’t afford or qualify for traditional coverage.

RestoringVision addresses the global shortage of reading glasses by tackling supply and demand challenges. On the demand side, they partner with local NGOs and governments to provide vision screenings and free initial glasses, particularly for those in regions who either don’t know reading glasses are an option or don’t realize they’re losing their vision. On the supply side, they work to build retail networks and educate employers about productivity benefits, as workers receiving glasses show productivity increases up to 32%.

Modeled after a similar program in Costa Rica, Neighborhood Nursing has teams of nurses and community health workers who host weekly visits throughout the community to provide free medical care — particularly preventative care — to those who need it. Neighborhood Nursing has helped build trust between residents and healthcare workers and aims to serve more than 4,000 people within the next year.

The Blueprint for Health model expands primary care access by requiring insurance providers in the state to pay additional monthly fees to cover more services for patients. Expanded services are provided by Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Community Health Teams, including nurses and counselors, at no cost to patients. Since starting in 2008, this model has helped significantly reduce medical and pharmaceutical claims.

The Carter Center, in collaboration with other organizations, launched a project to curb several neglected tropical diseases like river blindness. The Center and its partners provide health education through monthly visits from medical personnel to rural communities that are often most affected by these diseases and administer the necessary medication to fight the illnesses. Over the course of more than 20 years, the Center has delivered 27 million doses of disease-fighting medicine.

Care Ring, in collaboration with other organizations like the University of North Carolina School of Nursing, launched The Bridge, a community-based healthcare initiative that aims to make preventive care easier to access. The Bridge features a mobile care unit that provides free health screenings, counseling support and connections to community resources. Since December 2022, The Bridge has provided care to more than 100 people, 39% of which didn’t have a regular doctor.

The state Ministry of Health in partnership with other local organizations is providing educational, medical outreach for pregnant women to discuss malaria, maternal mortality and the importance of having regular medical checkups, while providing necessary resources to increase their access to care.

The Atayese initiative makes healthcare services more affordable and accessible for underserved age groups including young children, pregnant women and elderly people. The initiative launched in 2013 and runs clinics and hospital services in several states and communities where they’ve provided treatment to hundreds — in some areas, thousands — of patients.