As part of the World Malaria Day activities in Tanzania, Lady JD, a well known musical artist and Malaria Ambassador accompanied journalists to Kibaha, a district about 40 kilometers outside of Dar es Salaam. They went to report on the success of the recent nation-wide Under 5 Catch-Up Campaign that distributed a free ITN to every child under five in Tanzania and to better understand the new Hati Punguzo (voucher) program for pregnant mothers and infants.
More than 22,000 ITNs were distributed as part of the Catch-Up campaign in Kibaha, a district with approximately 90,000 people. In discussions with mothers of households, the nets are being used by the children and families. One mother reported no malaria cases in the family since they have had their nets up.
This activity is one of many that are happening around Tanzania to highlight malaria activities and interventions for World Malaria Day. In Tanzania, CCP has the Communication for Malaria Initiative in Tanzania (COMMIT) and Voices II projects that promote healthy behaviors for malaria prevention and control, and advocate for increased and effective use of resources at national and local level.
Lady JD also recorded a "Two Minutes of Wisdom" spot for COMMIT, to share with Tanzanians her own personal struggles with malaria.