Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Parasites and Pachyderms: Linking Malaria Prevention and Elephant Conservation in Kenya

On 25th April 2008, Mwachinga village, one of Born Free's Global Friends communities, was the venue for the celebrations of World Malaria day in Kinango District.  A team of medics from the Kinango hospital, lead by the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Swaleh Shahbal, was on the 24th April setting out the final plans for the following day’s event.  The new District Commissioner Mr. Okello, hardly managed to get his feet on the ground, before being asked to officiate - on only his second day at his new posting. 

By 9am on the day of the celebrations we found the Ministry of Health team already in place and community members gathering.  The school classrooms had been turned into clinics, each delivering a specific service.  One was a Voluntary Counseling and Testing room to screen for HIV/AIDS, another was malaria testing and for monitoring pregnant mothers and newborn babies.

Although the theme of the day was malaria, the Kinango Hospital team had organised a fully supported clinic plus pharmacy to be available to the Mwachinga residents and three neighbouring villages.  Dr. Swaleh explained that if you are not fit and healthy, then you stand a much lower chance of fighting diseases such as malaria, so he tries to adopt an integrated approach to preventive health.

In fact the biggest impediment to economic growth and development in many areas of Kenya is poor health.  This is behind Born Free’s decision to help in the fight against malaria.  Without good health, people cannot farm, do business, take part in community initiatives and generally prosper, meaning that they stay poor and the conservation of wildlife and habitats becomes a very low priority.  In contrast a healthy and prosperous community has the scope to make informed choices about management of the environment and protection of wildlife.

Staying healthy is a huge challenge for Kenya’s rural poor. Public transport to towns where hospitals are located is expensive and infrequent.  In Kinango District there may be only one service per day and it cannot run after it has rained.  With many households earning less than £1 a day, the £2 round trip fare may be prohibitively expensive and people will wait until they are very ill to make the crucial decision to seek treatment, sometimes meaning it can be too late.

Where dispensaries exist at village level, like the one in Mwachinga, they start to take on many functions usually reserved for hospitals.  But with no electricity and no fully qualified doctor, only basic services can be offered.  In Mwachinga, for instance, the clinical officer cannot even screen for malaria, the area’s most common and threatening disease.  So to have the services of the senior doctor of the district, together with his team of medics taking tests, diagnosing diseases and prescribing treatments, all free of charge, was a massive opportunity for the Mwachinga community and they were delighted.

By the end of the day 150 patients had received treatment; 50 antenatal mothers and children had received Vitamin A supplements; 100 children had been monitored for growth, of whom 25 were found to be deficient and require further consultation; 76 tested positive for malaria and received treatment; and in addition, 400 mosquito nets were distributed by a joint donation from Born Free and the Ministry of Health.

The day was crowned by a 15-year old girl with a chronic ear infection.  The illness has resulted in partial loss of hearing.   Her mother, who is illiterate, had consistently failed to seek medical attention over a period of 10 years.  Even when Born Free offered to take her to hospital in November 2007, the offer was declined by the family.  A simple ear infection resulted in a debilitating condition and the girl was forced to drop out of school.  Finally last week she agreed to a consultation with the doctor and was issued with the right drugs.  We sincerely hope that her unnecessary suffering can be ended and at least some of her hearing restored.

During his official address later in the day, Dr. Swaleh said he was so impressed by the attendance at the celebrations and the success of mosquito net after Born Free’s intervention that he promised to schedule a free mobile clinic on a monthly basis in this village.  A promise he intends to keep - but which also requires further support from the government and its development partners like Born Free.

To read the Wolrd Malaria Day Press Release, please click here