About 40% of the world’s population, mostly those living in
the poorest countries, are at risk of malaria. Of these 2.5 billion people at
risk, more than 500 million become severely ill with malaria every year and
more than 1 million die from the effects of the disease.
Malaria is especially a serious problem in Africa, where one
in every five (20%) childhood deaths is due to the effects of the disease. An
African child has on average between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of malaria fever each
year. And every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria.
(World Health Organization)
The Project
Background
At the 2008 Rotary Multi-District Conference in Nashville,
TN, the Rotaract District Committee of District 6710 voted to undertake the
purchase of insecticide-treated bed nets that protect against malaria as their
district-wide project for the upcoming 2008-2009 Rotary year.The project idea was sparked after hearing
one of the conference speakers.
As time went on, District Rotaract Representative Mary Kathryn
DeLodder made a contact with the Rotaract Club of Gbagada (District 9110) in
Lagos, Nigeria.The Rotaract Club of
Gbagada, as it turns out, wanted to distribute nets in their community.It was a perfect match; the partnership was
formed.
Scope
With this project, we hope to purchase between 1,000 and
approximately 2,500 insecticide-treated bed nets from Vestergaard Frandsen (www.vestergaard-frandsen.com),
a company that produces the nets (several Rotaractors spoke with
representatives from the company at the RI Convention in Los Angeles in June
2007).The nets, called PermaNet 2.0, are
a World Health Organization recommended brand.
The Rotaract Club of Gbagada has participated in net
distribution in the past, and has supplied information on the specifications of
the nets needed.They will devise a plan
to distribute the nets within District 9110, which is comprised of Lagos and
Ogun States in Nigeria.Nets will be
distributed to public hospitals, clinics, and health centers.
Rotary Club Involvement
The Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville has taken the lead
on this project, and has aspirations of receiving a Rotary Foundation Matching
Grant.Rotaract Clubs cannot directly apply for TRF grants, but they can apply through their sponsoring Rotary Club.In essence, the project would be a joint
effort between Rotaractors and Rotarians.Rotaractors would carry out most of the project, and Rotarians would
assist with the paperwork and by providing advice.
As a requirement for a TRF Matching Grant, the Rotaract Club
of Gbagada will be working with their sponsoring Rotary Club, the Rotary Club
of Gbagada, for all necessary International Partner paperwork and
contributions.The Rotary Club of
Gbagada is in good standing with TRF, has no currently active grants, and has
no outstanding grant reports.The Rotary
Club of Gbagada has successfully completed 6 matching grant projects in the
last several years.
The Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville will be working with
the Rotary Club of East Louisville Sunrise to serve as the primary Rotary Club
sponsor in District 6710 for TRF purposes.
Budget
The minimum order is 1,000 nets.The final number of nets to be purchased will
be determined by the final amount of funds raised.Quotes for 1,000 and 2,500 nets have been
obtained from Vestergaard Frandsen’s Nigerian office.Due to purchasing the nets in-country, costs
will only include purchase of nets and any in-country distribution costs.
The goal of Rotaractors in District 6710 is to raise a total
US $10,000.The ultimate goal is to also
apply to The Rotary Foundation for a Matching Grant in the amount of at least
US $5,000.The amount received from TRF
may increase depending on if any DDF is contributed by either participating
district.
Rotaract clubs will invite their sponsoring Rotary clubs to
contribute, and each Rotaract club is asked to devise a fundraiser.For participating Rotary Clubs, this project
will count as an international project targeting the presidential emphasis area
of Health and Hunger and combating child mortality, a requirement for the
2008-2009 RI Presidential Citation.
nets in-country, costs
will only include purchase of nets and any in-country distribution costs.