Let’s help a local hero save children’s lives Introducing Christian Aid’s malaria control project in Sierra Leone

Malaria kills a child in Africa every 45 seconds. By supporting a volunteer in a brand new project in Sierra Leone, our church can help change that.

In Sierra Leone, 29 per cent of deaths in under- fives are caused by malaria.

Most of those lives could be saved if their families knew how to prevent the disease.

For example, if children sleep under a mosquito net they are 50 per cent less likely to contract malaria.

But right now, only two in five households in Sierra Leone have a mosquito net.

Christian Aid is asking for help to launch a new programme to tackle malaria in Sierra Leone.

Christian Aid plans to recruit 40 volunteers as malaria control agents.

These are ordinary people, prepared to give their time for free to help protect their neighbours from malaria.

The volunteers will help to prevent and diagnose malaria in their own communities.

The government of Sierra Leone has an ambitious programme to distribute mosquito nets throughout the country. But this alone is not enough.

It is vital that people are taught how to use the nets properly, are able to recognise signs of malaria and can seek urgent medical treatment.

The malaria control agents will advise families how to use their nets, spot the symptoms of malaria and access treatment before it’s too late.

Christian Aid is looking for churches to help to fund the specialist training and equipment the volunteers will need.

It will cost £500 to train one volunteer malaria control agent and equip them to work for a year.

Churches who are supporting a malaria control agent will receive posters, support with fundraising and three updates from the project during the year.

Could we pledge to raise £500 to train one volunteer malaria control agent and equip them to work for a year?

Thank you christianaid.org.uk/tacklemalaria