Reducing the incidence of malaria

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1 Reducing the incidence of malaria thereby helping others so they too can lead healthy lives Activities for young people Activity type Age range resources 1 Incidence of malaria Group All Images, video clips discussion 2 Where malaria occurs Team game 8 + Map of Africa, coloured pens 3 How malaria occurs Team game 11+ Card set, true or false 4 Mosquito dice game Team game All Drawing of mosquito, coloured pens, dice 5 Balancing a mosquito Individual activity 8+ Outline of a mosquito, toothpick, blue tac, sellotape 6 Why malaria is so effective Group 11+ Images of fair traded discussion products 7 Safe travel Team game 8 14 Journey, counters, dice 8 Transmission of malaria Team game 11+ Card set, transmission paths 9 Making a mosquito Individual activity 8 + Pipe cleaners 10 Erecting a bed net Team activity 8+ Bed net, bamboo poles, twine 11 Helping African scouts to distribute bed nets to vulnerable families Group activity 8+ Images what African Scouts are doing Not supplied video clips; scissors; coloured pencils; bamboo poles suggest 4 x 1.0 m (uprights) ; 8 x 1.8 m (top and side bracing); counters The activity pack can be downloaded from the SAM website or purchased together with the resource box by completing the order form on the SAM website,

2 1 The incidence of malaria Aim: How malaria is spread and what can be done to avoid being bitten Background Malaria is contracted through the bite of a particular type of mosquito called the anopheles mosquito which may be infected with a parasite which can cause malaria. Through the female species need for blood, if the mosquito carries the parasite then in the process of drawing blood a parasite is injected into the blood stream. It is this parasite which infects the liver cells and thus results in malaria. Unlike infectious diseases which are encountered in temperate climates and for which vaccines are available, no vaccine is currently available to protect against the introduction of the malaria parasite into the blood stream. As symptoms of malaria include very high temperature, vomiting and diahorrea, young people under age of 5 are particularly vulnerable and can die as a result of contracting this disease unless treatment can be initiated within 12 hours. As the anopheles mosquitos are active at night, the simplest and most effective long term solution is to sleep under a bed net which is impregnated with an insecticide which can kill the mosquito. Over half the population at greatest risk from malaria in Africa still sleep unprotected by mosquito nets which cost about 2-3 each. However such nets must be correctly used and cared for. The activity Sit the group in a circle and introduce the topic through a discussion to find out what they know. Questions that should be asked and answered include What is malaria How is someone infected Where does it occur Who is most at risk Show video appropriate for age range (see below) After the video, discuss with group - How can illness be prevented Why assistance is needed Outcome Each person should have some knowledge about the illness and how it can be prevented Resources Video clip, projector, lap top or images Video links Friends against malaria [6+] This video is suitable for younger persons and is told through the eyes of two friends one from Africa and one from the UK. It explains what malaria is, how it is contracted, who is affected, the symptoms and how it can be prevented. A gentle introduction to the possible outcomes of being bitten. Peter Capaldi (Dr Who) visits the main hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi [11+] This video is suitable for older persons and is narrated by Peter Capaldi. It talks about malaria, how it can be prevented and what can happen if someone is bitten and is admitted to hospital and has a sad ending. A more mature approach to the impact of malaria and provides the basis for a discussion about what can be done to save a life

3 2 Where malaria occurs Mosquitos which carry the malaria parasite are found in areas which are both hot and wet. This is generally in the regions between the Tropics. However they cannot breed in desert areas as these are too dry or in mountainous areas which too cold at night. Colour in which countries you think mosquitos are found in Africa

4 3 How malaria occurs Following a discussion about how malaria occurs, your team should be able to decide which facts are true and which are false by arranging these cards into two columns under either true or false. Then each team can look at what another has done and see if you agree All mosquito bites result in malaria Anopheles mosquitos are only active at night Malaria is not dangerous as its symptoms are not severe Mosquitos can find holes in bed nets Both male and female mosquitos can introduce malaria parasite Bed nets are an important way of protecting you while you sleep Only young children are vulnerable to malaria Treatment should be started as soon as possible Only anopheles mosquitos carry the malaria parasite Female mosquitos bite to obtain blood to feed their young When mosquitos bite they inject a parasite which causes malaria Mosquitos can also transmit other diseases and are active during day True False

5 4 Mosquito parts Aim: A fun game to learn the parts of a mosquito Each team is provided with a drawing of a mosquito, coloured pencils and a dice. Players take it in turn to roll a dice and colour in the body part corresponding to their number However it is necessary to throw a 6 first to colour in the body before any other part can be added. Each throw can only result in one body part Players may only add the correct number of body parts to their mosquito. First team to complete the mosquito wins. dice Part Number of parts comment 6 Body 1 Must start with body 5 Head 1 4 Wings 2 3 Front legs 2 2 Rear legs

underneath the mosquito to act as its proboscis (mouth) using sellotape or a gummed label Then stick a blob of blue tac

6 Aim: To balance a mosquito and colour it in 5 Balancing a mosquito Print the images of a mosquito on cartridge paper or a similar type of light card Each individual cuts out the shape of the mosquito using scissors Attach a toothpick to underneath the mosquito to act as its proboscis (mouth) using sellotape or a gummed label Then stick a blob of blue tac under each wing and move until you can balance it on your finger tip Finally colour in your mosquito to decorate it and take it home

6 Understanding why malaria is so effective The disease affects people primarily living in the tropics as mosquitos will always breed in countries where it is hot and wet.

8 6 Understanding why malaria is so effective The disease affects people primarily living in the tropics as mosquitos will always breed in countries where it is hot and wet. Mosquitos, the carrier of the parasite which results in malaria, have been around for millions of years and are likely to continue their existence for many years to come. Even though there is a global partnership to fight the disease led by the World Health Organisation, no effective vaccine has yet been forth coming. Reducing places where mosquitos can breed is very effective as their larvae require stagnant pools of water in order to become adults but it is very difficult to eliminate all pools of water in a wet climate. Use of insecticide treated bed nets is very effective as the female anopheles mosquito is only active at night, but mosquitos are becoming immune to currently used insecticides in many countries so requiring new insecticides to be developed and new nets to be distributed Other factors which reduce the resistance of people include climate change which is causing changes in rainfall patterns resulting in crop failure in a number of African countries. People have therefore had to migrate to neighbouring countries which might have a more equitable climate. This enforced migration has created stress in the surrounding countries whose land may only just be sufficient to support the present local population. poverty which may often mean going without one or more meals a day The activity Sit the group in a circle and discuss why malaria is so difficult to prevent. Questions that should be asked and answered include Who is most at risk? How does this affect their ability to survive being bitten? Why are so many people vulnerable? How can a changing climate affect the ability of populations to feed themselves? Is poverty is a factor? If so can buying fair traded products help them? Outcome Awareness of the factors that contribute to malaria being so effective and help to reduce poverty by buying fair traded products. Fair traded products are those products which carry the fair trade mark which guarantees producers a premium payment for the products they produce. These additional funds are used to buy food for their families, buy seeds to grow the next crop and help pay for their children s education. Amongst the most popular activities are to undertake blind tasting of fair and non fair traded products and to prepare one or more courses using only fair trade ingredients.

9 7 Safe travel through a country where mosquitos are active.game played in teams with each person having a counter placed at square #1. Players take it in turn to shake the dice and move counter according to the number on the dice. If the square on which your counter lands has an action carry this out. First person to travel through the country safely and reach home wins. Home safe 100 stopped taking tablets Did not use net Sick! incorrect clothes forgot lost to spray Took tablets tablet Took tablet Took tablet Use net travel to malaria safe area Took tablet Start trip 1 2 missed a day Took tablets pre trip Resources Laminated board, counters for each team member, dice Correct cover up 10

10 8 Transmission of malaria - teams to arrange a set of cards to identify the various pathways A healthy person lives in sub tropical Africa Person does not catch disease Person dies Person recovers

11 A healthy person lives in sub tropical Africa Hot and wet climate so mosquitos present Anopheles mosquitos can carry a germ that causes malaria Anopheles mosquitos only active at night Wears protective clothing after dark Sleeps under insecticide treated bed net Person does not catch disease Did not wear protective clothing after dark did not sleep under bed net Person bitten and malaria germ enters blood stream Person dies Treatment started too late No clinic nearby where treatment can be started Infected person develops high fever, shivers & sweats Reaches clinic and malaria germ detected Treatment started Person recovers

12 9 Making a mosquito Resources Pipe cleaners of 3 different colours, googly eyes, scissors and glue Method The eyes, the wings and the legs are formed separately preferably with different colours. These are then joined together by twisting the long pipe cleaner round all the body parts leaving the one end to form the head which draws blood and can inject the malaria parasite 1) Cut one pipe cleaner into thirds and the second into 1/3 and 2/3 2) Roll both ends of 1/3 pipe cleaner in towards centre to form eyes; glue eyes in each centre 3) Form wings by bending ends of a 2/3 pipe cleaner in towards the centre 4) Create legs by twisting together three 1/3 pipe cleaners and bending downwards 5) Join eyes and wings by threading a full length pipe cleaner through eyes and twisting around wings; join eyes/wings to legs by twisting pipe cleaner around complete assembly 6) Form body by twisting long pipe cleaner to form base and proboscis

10 Erecting an insecticide impregnated bed net The mosquitos that spread malaria are active at night and so the most suitable form of protection is

they are asleep while the insecticide will kill the mosquito.

Then to drape the net over or suspend the net from the framework using the sewn in loops at the ends and middle of each side.

13 10 Erecting an insecticide impregnated bed net The mosquitos that spread malaria are active at night and so the most suitable form of protection is to sleep under an insecticide impregnated mosquito net which has two benefits it will prevent the mosquitoes being able to bite when someone when they are asleep while the insecticide will kill the mosquito. The activity is to erect a mosquito net by creating a framework of bamboo poles and using twine to bind the poles together. Then to drape the net over or suspend the net from the framework using the sewn in loops at the ends and middle of each side. Each member of the team which erected the net can then enter the enclosure and each should ensure that there are no gaps which could allow a mosquito to enter!. This activity requires good team work and supervision by an adult as the nets are delicate and can easily be damaged.

11 Joining the global partnership to fight malaria What Scouts can do to limit the incidence of malaria Background Leading healthy lives is one of the most important of the Sustainable Development

Scouting can contribute to this goal by helping to reduce the incidence of malaria which is responsible for between 30 and 50% of all outpatient visits in many countries in sub Saharan Africa As the

14 11 Joining the global partnership to fight malaria What Scouts can do to limit the incidence of malaria Background Leading healthy lives is one of the most important of the Sustainable Development Goals which were agreed by the United Nations collectively in Scouting can contribute to this goal by helping to reduce the incidence of malaria which is responsible for between 30 and 50% of all outpatient visits in many countries in sub Saharan Africa As the anopheles mosquitos which are carriers of the parasite that cause malaria are active at night, the simplest form of protection is for families to sleep under a long life insecticide treated bed net. But many of the people living in this region still do not have access to bed nets while resistance to existing insecticides is growing Scouts in the UK and Africa can earn the SAM badge by undertaking two activities - obtaining a better understanding of the disease and what can be done to reduce its incidence helping those people who do not have any form of protection against mosquitos. Through discussion within each group, it is hoped that each UK Scout will on average be willing to raise individually or collectively 5 per head which could then be used to buy and distribute bed nets in countries in Africa where malaria is endemic. African Scouting UK Scouts have been sending funds to Scouts in the 4 African countries that is Ghana, Gambia, Uganda and Malawi. In each country Scouts have been active locally in organising campaigns in various Districts. Working together with local charities and the District Health officers, they have identified vulnerable families such as those with young children under the age of 5 or expectant mothers. They have distributed bed nets to these families, helped with erecting them, ensured that parents are aware of the symptoms, where treament is available and why immediate help must be sought if bitten. Distributing the nets, Jinja District, Uganda Helping to erect a long life insecticide impregnated bed net for a family with young children Nyame Bekyere village, Ashanti district, Ghana For further details of these campaigns, visit

Reducing the incidence of malaria. through local actions

Reducing the incidence of malaria through local actions Activities for young people to earn a badge and save a life Living within the temperate zone of the world is much less challenging than living within