I (Cliff Landesman) haven't blogged for some time, but will start posting more frequently soon. I have been in conversations with a small nonprofit, Global Youth for Education and Change regarding a project near Kisumu, Kenya. The project would screen eaves in the villages of Rota and Kisian, extending work that was done by Ned Walker and Ben Abong'o as a research project. Ben would be our local project manager. Ned and Ben's research (not yet published) shows a benefit from eaves screening, even though the houses are still leaky.

It was interesting to me to hear that the quality of the tools available for purchase in Kisumu and even in Nairobi is inadequate for the project and we are looking to see if we can import from the US or South Africa staple guns and drill bits for turning screws.

If all goes well, the project will get started in the first few months of 2016.

Here is a video that was produced by GYEC about the project that concluded in 2015:

Video of Kenya House Screening

Mona took these pictures. She says the screening is going very well.

Here are some photos that Jeanne Gazel took of the screening project that Ned Walker, Ben Abong'o and Mona Nizad are conducting:

Ned Walker sent me this message earlier in the week:

I am here in Kisumu, working with Ben and Mona and others.  We have identified 120 + pairs of suitable houses and are now going through the process of enrolling the householders and obtaining their consent to be involved in the house screening study.  We were in the villages today and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with only one out right "no" based on what was probably just a misunderstanding.  We will continue with this process until enrollment is completed, probably by end of next Monday, and then commence to the actual screening preceded by team training.  I feel very positive and optimistic about it.  

--Cliff

Recently Mona and I had a chat about malaria. Here is how the
conversation went (with a little collaborative editing):

Cliff: Tell me about your experience of malaria last year (in 2012).

Mona: Last year, I had malaria two times. The signs of malaria are
feeling extremely tired and just feeling weak. I have had malaria
before and am familiar with the symptoms. So when I felt these
symptoms, I went to the pharmacy and got a medicine that is very
affordable to the common Kenyan. I took the medicine for three days.
During this time I felt nauseated and lost my appetite. Then I got
over the sickness after taking the drugs.

Cliff: What precautions are you taking to avoid malaria?

Mona: I have personally taken a few precautions to prevent me and my
family from getting malaria. I invited a specialist to spray around my
house to stop mosquitoes and other bugs from coming in. I also close
the doors and windows very early in the evening. This prevents
mosquitoes from coming in.

There is a big bush around my house which acts as a breeding place for
the mosquitoes. I plan on talking to the owner of the land about
clearing it.

--Cliff

Kenya Must Change Tack to Tackle Malaria

Did anyone reading this blog attend the Pan African Mosquito Control Association conference in Nairobi, held on October 3rd? Kenya Must Change Tack to Tackle Malaria People are at last talking publicly about the limitations of bed nets.

Left to right: Nick Athembo, Ben Abong'o, Leah Dodge, Jeanne Gazel, Rob McCann, Mona Nizad, and Sam Corden.