The Project in Goma
The city of Goma lies on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. Malaria in this region is one of the leading causes of death for children under five. In 2005, 67% of the children treated at the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma were diagnosed with malaria. Few in this region can afford preventative measures, and re-infection is common. The Bed Nets For Kids project grew out of a desire to decrease the risk of malaria infection and re-infection to children in this region.
A commonly held belief in the global heath community is that freely distributed nets are not valued. However, the Bed Nets For Kids project has found that over 97% of our families are using their net appropriately. We attribute this fact to the emotional and financial investment in the child already made by their families. Follow-up visits at home are proving that the free bed net and health education provided at the time of treatment are greatly valued by these families.
The follow-up home visits by a local nurse are a very valuable component of this project. This visit not only provides the project with a method of evaluation, it also serves to reinforce the importance of malaria prevention for the recipients. During these visits, the nurse visually assesses the net's placement and provides education on proper placement and use, and discuss other methods of malaria prevention. If the child recipient is home during these visits, the nurse also performs a general health assessment to make sure the child is not showing symptoms of malaria infection.
From its inception in July 2006, the project's local popularity has grown. Word of mouth recommendations have led more parents to choose HEAL Africa hospital for their child's malaria treatment. Prior to the Bed Nets For Kids project, HEAL Africa Hospital treated an average of 13 children per month for malaria. Now upwards of 60 children per month are treated at HEAL Africa Hospital and are provided a bed net and a follow-up home visit through Bed Nets For Kids. Due to recent reports on co-morbidity complications with malaria and HIV, Bed Nets For Kids has expanded to include children at HEAL Africa's Pediatric HIV clinic. To date, Bed Nets For Kids has provided over 1,000 children with LLIN bed nets from the city of Goma, the surrounding region in the North Kivu Province of the DRC and across the border into western Rwandan communities!
The Bed Nets For Kids project in Goma is a collaboration of Sara Gallagher, RN, CNS, Papy Boendi, RN, Lyn Lusi and the doctors, nurses and pharmacists at the HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma.