Battling malaria in Anam with help from Rotary: sharing mosquito nets in Ebenebe

The Dr. Aloy & Gesare Chife Foundation is developing a comprehensive package of community-based health interventions in Anam. The malaria initiative is one of the first programs initiated by the Chife Foundation and is implemented in partnership with High Noon Rotary Club Colorado, USA. The goal of this particular campaign is to eradicate malaria in the region of Anam and is a prelude to the coming construction of the Anam Hospital, which will break ground in November after the rainy season.

The first distribution of the insecticide mosquito net was led this week by Mrs. Gesare Chife in Anam City and witnessed a high turnout. The women and children of Anam were excited to see Mrs Chife visiting their homes to share the bed nets with them. She also took time to educate the village women on how to use the mosquito nets to avoid effects to their skin, as well as using her training as a nurse to issue medical diagnosis to many of the children.

The team plans to distribute more than two thousand long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets this year in the immediate village, and hopes to expand with over 10,000 regionally. These high-quality bed nets are designed to be effective without further treatment and for up to five years.

In Zone 1 of Ebenebe village, nets have been distributed to each family; this means every person in the zone is able to sleep under a mosquito net each night. This represents a ratio of two nets per household. The next zone to receive distribution will be Umuoba-Anam Otu-ocha, where another 1,000 will be shared this month. The Chife Foundation will implement a follow-up assessment to verify the percentage of nets being regularly used. On-going education in the target villages is also planned, in an effort to significantly reduce the spread of malaria in Anam.  Treated nets were chosen from among many available methods as one of the more effective ways to prevent the spread of malaria, especially amidst the climate of drug resistance and misuse that is growing in West Africa.

The Anam community and Chife Foundation greatly appreciate support provided by the High Noon Rotary Club of Durango Colorado who’s partnership has made this programming possible.

 

 

Clinton Global Initiative awards honorary membership to Chife Foundation

We are proud to announce that the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) has extended an honorary membership to the Chife Foundation for 2012.     Each year, CGI offers a limited number of complimentary membership invitations to nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations such as our own.  Bridging knowledge and action, our work was recognized for its merit in the track of sustainability in the built environment.

CGI was created by President Clinton in 2005 in an effort to translate ideas into action. The mission of the Clinton Global Initiative is to inspire, connect, and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

“I have the utmost respect and admiration for President Clinton and the impact he has made both nationally and globally,” Executive Director of the Chife Foundation, Mrs. Gesare Chife said learning of the invitation.  “This is a great opportunity for the Foundation to build awareness around the wonderful work happening in Anam and to connect with organizations that share our commitment to action.”

Mrs. Chife will attend the CGI Annual Meeting in September, where of heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors gather to analyze pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions, and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change.

Chife Foundation staff will also attend the Mid-Year Meeting on Monday June 25th in New York City.

What will the African city of 2025 look like? FUTURE CITIES AFRICA SUMMIT STARTS [LIVE BLOG]

Mayors, urban planners and policymakers are gathered in Lagos today to discuss the future of Africa’s social, physical and economic environments at an Economist Conference, Future Cities.

The Chife Foundation is pleased to be attending the event and will be live blogging the sessions here at anamcity.wordpress.com, and tweeting @anamcity.

The Economist will be broadcasting via Twitter @EC_Cities using the hashtag #africacities.

Today’s speakers include:

• Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola
• Mayor of Harare, Muchadeyi Masunda
• Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Dayo Mobereola 
• Architect, David Adjaye

Please see the full agenda for Future Cities on the Economist’s website here.

Join Anam team at FUTURE CITIES AFRICA (Economist Conference) in Lagos May 30/31st

Join us for a major summit on the future of cities in Africa

The most compelling growth opportunities are in Africa’s cities. In the next 10 years the continent’s population will rise beyond 1.5bn and consumer spending is predicted top $1.5 trillion.  The Anam design team will attend the event and live blog many of the sessions. 

Future Cities:  Managing Africa’s urban transformation

May 30th–31st 2012

Eko Expo Centre, Lagos

Future Cities, organised by Economist Conferences, is a major international conference, exploring innovative new approaches to designing, managing and financing Africa’s cities.

The event will feature leading authorities in urban planning, construction, transport, energy, architecture and sustainability, including the mayors of Lagos State, Johannesburg, Harare, Durban, Dar Es Salaam and Cape Town.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor of Lagos State
• Parks Tau, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg
• Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties
• Kuma Demeksa, Executive Mayor of Addis Ababa
• He Liehui, Managing Director, Touchroad International Holding Group

Special NGO and academic rates are available. For further information and to register, visit www.economistconferences.com/africacities quoting code ANAM.

 

World Malaria Day 2012: How we will eradicate Malaria in Anam

MAKING ANAM A MALARIA FREE CITY

World Malaria Day is organized by the World Health Organization to recognize global efforts to address malaria worldwide. In concert with international efforts, today the Anam community is proud to launch the ANAM MALARIA INITIATIVE, a campaign aimed at eradicating malaria in the region of Anam.  As the first step in a community health strategy, we plan to achieve this by focusing resources on pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and the elderly.  Set in the context of the sustainable new town development Anam City  we will apply a hybridized approach to all health care.   The health center is more than a hospital – and aims at fostering a completely healthy town or in the Igbo “onye orun di” through high quality livability, integration of traditional methods, and focus on environment and nutrition.

Watch the video above where Chife Foundation Fellows, Linus Ifeanyi Nnewke and Anthony Nnalue launch the program!

Stay tuned for updates from our World Malaria Day event Sunday April 29 at Ebenebe which will include local performances (theater, dance, music) and refreshments.  The program (which will distribute medications, treated nets, and vector control to Ebenebe families) is developed in partnership with the Anam Community, Chife Foundation, and High Noon Rotary Club.

More information about World Malaria Day can be found with the following organizations’ websites:

Roll Back Malaria

World Health Organization (WHO)

Malaria Consortium