Impact

We’re confident we can truly help overcome malaria in Africa. Why? Because we get results.

Our team of malaria experts in Africa have been working tirelessly in this life-and-death fight to improve the healthcare infrastructure so a sustained victory over malaria will be possible.  Thousands of miles of travel, countless meetings and plenty of sleepless nights have  helped achieve a great deal in a very short time.

For more than 160 years, The United Methodist Church has operated hospitals and clinics throughout Africa. Our facilities are a vital and trusted part of the healthcare delivery system on the continent. Where the road runs out, we are there.  Beyond the reach of many aid organizations and in many cases, even governments.

Just last year, we helped train health boards in Zimbabwe, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.  These health boards will oversee the planning and implementation of in-country malaria programs.

Bed nets?  Yeah, we delivered those too.  In April 2010, in a multi-faith effort, more than 25,000 insecticide-treated bed nets were distributed in Lubumbashi, of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Another coordinated effort provided 5,000 bed nets to families in Nyadire, Zimbabwe.  And in November, we were part of a huge, multi-organization effort that distributed more than 2 million nets in Sierra Leone.  Our part included providing 640,000 bed nets, including more than 400,000 to families in the Bo District, in the northeast part of the country.

The best part?  More than 3,500 local workers were trained to survey, distribute, install and teach people about proper net usage.  Local people.  Working in their own communities.

Working side-by-side with local communities, national departments of health, other non-profits (like Nets For Life, UNICEF, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) is precisely the way we will beat this disease.

Want a bigger picture?  Check out this map of UMC activities in Africa.