Leamington Rotary Club donates mosquito nets to children in Zambia

The Royal Leamington Spa Rotary Club donated more than 450 mosquito nets to schoolchildren in Zambia.

This will help to protect them from malaria.

The donation was made through a UK charity The Butterfly Tree which has had a successful malaria prevention programme underway in Zambia since 2007.

The Butterfly Tree, an all-volunteer charity, has piloted a scheme to provide insecticide-treated mosquito nets to children over five and young people attending rural schools in several chiefdoms in Zambia.

This is proving to be highly successful with no absenteeism from malaria being reported in schools.

Children over five and youths suffer from a shortfall of government-sponsored nets, which are mainly used for under-fives and pregnant women.

The Rotary Club started its association with The Butterfly Tree in 2018 by donating 150 mosquito nets to children at Mambova Primary School in Kazungula

This support to the school has continued with a further gift of 300 nets this year.

Mambova is situated near to the Zambezi River, a breeding ground for mosquitos and the distribution of mosquito nets has saved the lives of many residents.

Jane Kaye-Bailey, the founder of The Butterfly Tree based in Norton Lindsay, said: “We are thankful to the Royal Leamington Spa Rotary club for its generous donation of nets in support of our successful malaria 'Mosquito Nets for Schools' programme.

"Pupils at Mambova Junior Secondary School have benefited hugely in terms of health and this has had a marked improvement on attendance at school.

"The Butterfly Tree is funded by grants, corporate backers and donations.

"Just £5 will buy a mosquito net to help protect people from this destructive disease.

"The charity provides clean water and sanitation, feeding programmes, improved health and education facilities, malaria prevention, sustainable community projects and an orphan support programme."