A mother's heartbreak One Kenyan boy's struggle against malaria — a leading cause of death among African children — illustrates why efforts to prevent it require increased funding. April 2008 By John Kabubu, World Vision Kenya, and Janet Root, World Vision U.S.

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Heavy rains beat the soil of Narok, Kenya, and local residents rejoice in the hopes of their crops soon springing to life.

But despite the joy rainy season downpours bring to this East African nation's southeastern region, disease looms. Malaria-infected anopheles mosquitoes proliferate in the stagnant water and long grasses.

Sylvia Sasai lives in Ntulele, one of several communities in Narok, a malaria-prevalent district that World Vision serves. A mother of seven, she has witnessed the force of this deadly illness that has caused her son, Lemashol, great suffering.

Painful symptoms

"Malaria makes my body feel weak. I get a fever and my body feels very hot, like it is on fire. I don't feel like eating when food is brought," says the 7-year-old, grimacing as he recounts malaria's excruciating symptoms.

"The first thing I feel is a big and painful headache … Sometimes, I go for even two weeks without going to school."

Lemashol's pain is not Sylvia's only concern for her son. Malaria causes more than 1 million deaths each year; most are African children. Though the preventable and treatable disease is under control in most places, sub-Saharan Africa is home to the most deadly species of mosquito that transmits it.

Knowledge is power

World Vision works hard to combat this child killer in Kenya and other African countries where malaria is rampant.

One primary prevention measure offered throughout our 16 Kenyan sponsorship program areas is community education. If knowledge is power, Sylvia is becoming a much stronger woman because of such training.

"When it rains [at] my house, water collects around it and brings mosquitoes that cause malaria," she says. "I think that water tanks would help me so that I collect this water when it rains instead of it gathering around the house and making my … family sick."

Malaria's decline attributed to bed nets

Recently, World Vision's Olenton area program staff distributed 300 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to as many households. Though a good start, it's not nearly enough to cover the little ones who remain vulnerable to malaria, including Lemashol.

A recent report indicates a paltry 5-percent insecticide-treated bed net coverage rate in African households. Meanwhile, one survey from Tanzania has shown that if 75 percent of an entire village sleeps under such nets, the malaria incidence among children can be reduced by as much as 98 percent.

World Vision plans to continue distributing bed nets, allowing mothers in Narok — and across Africa — to sleep more peacefully at night, knowing their children are safe.