How malaria changed my life forever: Health workers share experience at Teach to Reach 10

The Geneva Learning Foundation's Teach to Reach initiative held its 10th session dedicated to sharing firsthand experiences with malaria. This live event built upon responses to Teach to Reach Questions sent to participants in the weeks leading up to the session, creating a rich repository of personal and professional insights into malaria's impact across various communities. Request your invitation for Teach to Reach https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach The session featured contributions from health workers, community leaders, and individuals affected by malaria. Participants from multiple countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, shared their stories and insights. Personal experiences highlighted the severe impact of malaria on individuals and families. Rashida Musa Mukaddas from Bochi, Nigeria, described ongoing challenges with treatment: "We suffer a lot of malaria. For over the few months ago, we have been suffering from malaria issues because we have been taking, I encourage my family to access care from the facility. And most of the drugs given were not being able to treat those kind of diseases unless we took a longer period before it was cured." Several participants shared heartbreaking stories of losing loved ones to malaria, particularly children and pregnant women. Lucy Pam Dangyang, a public health specialist from Nigeria, shared: "As a community health worker in a rural area in Nigeria, I've seen first-hand the devastating impact of malaria on individuals, families, and communities. Unfortunately, I have experienced the pain of losing children to malaria." The session also explored the wider socioeconomic impacts of malaria. Dr Mary Obi from Nigeria noted: "Hospital visits have become frequent, and medical expenses have added financial strain. Our children's education has also suffered, as they have missed school due to illness and recovery time." Participants discussed the challenges of malaria prevention, particularly the use of insecticide-treated bednets. While some reported success with bednet programs, many highlighted issues with acceptance and proper use. Kingsley Kofi Nignere from Ghana shared: "As a malaria advocator, I interviewed some of the community members as to why they are not using the insecticide-treated nets (bednet). Their responses were: (1) They are not able to breathe well in the bednet. (2) They are like how a body is kept in a coffin. (3) They feel burning sensations or itches when they sleep under the bed net." Treatment challenges were also a significant topic of discussion. Participants highlighted issues with drug availability, cost, and efficacy. Some reported growing concerns about drug resistance and the use of ineffective or counterfeit medications. The potential impact of climate change on malaria transmission was noted by several participants. Mustapha Ali Musine from Nigeria observed: "Due to the change in climate, the raining season last longer than before. As such there are breeding grounds for mosquitoes leading to increasing cases of malaria." The session concluded with a discussion on the introduction of malaria vaccines. While many participants expressed hope about the potential impact of vaccines, others cautioned about the need for comprehensive community engagement to address potential vaccine hesitancy. This inaugural malaria-focused session at Teach to Reach demonstrated the value of combining asynchronous experience sharing through targeted questions with live discussions. By tapping into the collective experiences of the group, the session created a multifaceted understanding of malaria challenges and interventions across various African contexts. It highlighted the complex interplay of factors affecting malaria control and the need for multifaceted, community-centered approaches to combat this persistent health threat.