Malaria is the most significant health problem in Zambia, accounting for the greatest number of pediatric outpatient consultations and hospital admissions.  Malaria is endemic in all 9 provinces and 72 districts of Zambia, and 90-100% of the 13 million people in Zambia are at risk of malaria.  However, in recent years, there has been a reduction of inpatient malaria cases and deaths due to the Ministry of Health making malaria control a national priority and an increase in international aid and advocacy.  But still, there are communities and families  suffering everyday from a preventable disease.

In 2011, U. S. Peace Corps and PMI Zambia partnered together to create a malaria team. They are equipped to scale-up malaria education among all sectors of Peace Corps Zambia, create cross-collaboration among NGOs and neighborhood health committees, and conduct the first research study focused around net longevity that involves Peace Corps volunteers and their local counterparts.  Stomp Out Zambia is working tirelessly to monitor and evaluate the 76 Village Research Assistants who are currently collecting the data for the 24 month PMI Net Longevity Study that involves all 4 Peace Corps programs and their counterparts.

Also, check out the presentations Stomp Out Zambia presented to the U.S. Embassy, Camp Glow, Vestergaard Frandsen, and the Ministry of Health.

“Much of the progress against malaria in Zambia has been made possible by the United States, particularly the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)…and President Sata’s first publc reception honored the work of the U.S. Peace Corps and USAID for their continued work in malaria control.”  -Michael Gerson, Washington Post, April 2012.

Stomp-Stomp and stay tuned for World Malaria Day photos and stories from such an important day!