World Malaria Day celebrated with support from Rotary.

Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) has marked World Malaria Day with awareness events at all Library Learning Centres across PNG. It is vital for children to learn how to protect themselves from this preventable and devastating disease which affects millions of people in PNG. Malaria has a very negative effect on children’s overall health, so it is vital to try to avoid contracting it too often.

BbP received the donation of awareness materials from Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) and mosquito nets from the Rotary Club of Boroko. All children enrolled in BbP’s Early Childhood Education program across PNG, has received a Malaria coloring-in booklet to take home, which provides students with information about prevention and treatment. BbP’s teachers received flip-charts with detailed information, which will be used as part of the organisation’s awareness program.

Thanks to sponsorship support from the Rotary Club of Boroko, with a grant for 150 mosquito nets and financial support for the event from Sanjay Shah of Supreme Industries Limited and You & Us Connect, made for a fun and enjoyable learning experience for the children. Rotarians who were in attendance to present the nets included Pragnesh Lalcheta of Supreme Industries Limited, Joselito Tubon of CHM and Yollander Jovopa of You & Us Connect.

BbP will distribute the Malaria nets to vulnerable families and to continue to support the children with awareness.

A majority of the children enrolled in BbP’s have themselves had Malaria but have perhaps never quite understood where this disease comes from and how to avoid it. Early Childhood Education gives the children a chance to set healthy hygiene practices from a young age and can share their knowledge with their family. BbP is grateful for the support from Rotary to assist with spreading correct information about the prevention of the disease while we all wait for the vaccine to come. No child should have to die from this disease.

Joselito Tubon, President of the Rotary Club of Boroko and Operations Manager at CHM said: “It is our pleasure to be part of BbP’s World Malaria Day activities. I trust that Rotary Club of Boroko’s little contribution in creating Malaria awareness to the kids would give more value to the development of the kids in the community