The results from the April 2006 surveys taken in the original baseline villages are illustrated in Fig. 4A and 4B on the following page. The results show that in under two years we have dramatically cut the malaria prevalence by 84% in the children below 5 years of age (fig. 4B) and by 74% in the general population (fig. 4A). The reduction has been faster than expected in an area that previously had intense malaria transmission and a long history of high malaria prevalence. As seen in the figures of the last survey we are no longer seeing any P.malariae or P. ovale and the deadly P. falciparum has been significantly reduced. The main species persisting is P. vivax. This malaria species has the ability to hide in the liver for years and re-emerge without re-infection from mosquitoes. The relatively high occurrence of P. vivax malaria is most likely the result of such relapses and not from new infections. We will be treating these P. vivax carriers for the liver stage starting in 2007. Primaquine is the most effective drug for treating P. vivax, however it can cause a genetic disorder haemolysis in G6PD deficient people. Therefore we will have to screen all P. vivax patients for this disorder before providing the needed drugs. Reduction of Malaria in the Phase I villages
The Sumba Foundation research project on mosquito net durability To be effective in combating malaria, mosquito nets but must have the capacity to kill mosquitoes and remain intact and toxic to insects for as long as possible. In order to select the best possible type of mosquito nets for our malaria control program we have collaborated with the foremost mosquito net developer in the world, Dr. Ole Skovmand. We tested three new prototypes of nets developed by his company In-tection and tested this new generation of nets against the long lasting nets we have been using, the Permanet-2. The tests were conducted in Weihola and Kadoku villages from June to September 2006. The four types of nets were distributed to different sections of the villages and all nets were washed once a week for 4 months. Nets were sampled every 5 washing cycles and sent for bioassay testing at the Indonesian governments’ research laboratory at Salatiga in Central Java. We found that under the harsh field conditions of Sumba, the Permanet-2 mosquito nets did not remain effective for the promoted 20 washing cycles but rather for only 3 washing cycles. The new generation of In-tection nets all lasted at least 10 washing cycles and thus proved to be far superior. These findings were presented to the International Malaria Community at the Multilateral Initiative Against Malaria (MIM) conference in Cameroon Africa in October 2005. Please see pictures from the project and the conference below ( 6A & 6B ). The Sumba Foundation will now only use the new generation of In-tection mosquito nets that we can purchase at cost price in return for conducting the research program for Dr. Skovmand and his company. Documentary filming of the Malaria Control Program
Since June 2005 two international film crews have filmed our Malaria Control Program and the results it has achieved. The first film team to document the program was an American film crew lead by the film director Dr. Rutledge Taylor. Their film intends to create awareness of malaria in western countries with the intent to motive individuals and governments to focus the resources needed to combat a preventable and curable disease that afflicts over 100 million people living in third world countries. The team filmed for 6 days in Sumba and is scheduled for release in second half of 2006. The latest film crew to document the program was a crew from Danish National TV lead by the film director and author Troels Kloevedal. Their main focus was to document the malaria control program in context with the unique Sumba culture. The crew filmed for 10 days in June 2006 and is scheduled for release as a 1 hour TV documentary on Danish National TV in the beginning of February 2007. The front page of this report shows the team at work. Acknowledgements
When I first met Dr. Claus Bogh I was setting up what has now become our Sumba Foundation Health Program. At that time I had already been infected with malaria more than 25 times, once I was in a coma and near death for three days. I knew that in order to make inroads to better health we had to find a way to solve the malaria problem that was endemic in the Nihiwatu area and throughout Sumba Island. For 15 years my wife and I had been watching children die and villagers suffering throughout the year with recurrent bouts of malaria infections. From personal experience we knew that malaria not only kills but it also debilitates people. It robs people from having the capacity to be productive, from having the strength to be able to farm to feed their families, and to walk the many miles needed to find water. Meeting Dr. Bogh was meant to be. He was a frustrated malaria specialist who had been working throughout the world for large governmental and non-governmental organizations researching malaria but not having the opportunity to really solving the problem. I was searching for a solution to a major problem that I knew could be solved if only I knew what to do. When Claus came to my house and presented his ideas on how to solve our problem I immediately knew that his methods would work in our area. All I needed to know was how much will it cost? Claus started by making a baseline study of our immediate area while he was still the Senior Advisor on Mosquito Borne Diseases to the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The results of his survey verified what I already knew, that malaria in Sumba was as bad as many of the worst afflicted malarial regions of the world. He laid out his plan and his budget and I went to America to join our Foundation President, Sean Downs, to find the seed funding we needed to get the Malaria Control Program started. Tom and Monica Parr were the first to be touched by our plea and pledged to help in a big way. Their donation, supplemented by that of Sean and Kathryn Downs, allowed us to set up our Malaria Control Program and start saving lives. Since then many donors have joined us in giving the Sumbanese people the ability to be more productive and thereby be better able to help themselves. On behalf of the board and the staff of The Sumba Foundation, and the thousands of people we have been able to help, l want to thank Dr. Bogh for his dedication and tireless work for our cause and to all who have donated to this very important sector of The Sumba Foundations efforts to improve life on the island. What we have been able to accomplish in such a short time proves that malaria can indeed be controlled at minimal expense. Our model works, it’s proven and should be seriously considered as one of the methods that much larger organizations should be using in their malaria eradication programs. All it takes is dedication and the will to put the time in that is needed to get the job done right. In particular our gratitude goes to the following donors who believe in what we are doing and trust us to do the right thing with their money, they are; The Barrels Family Trust by Wendy and Larry Barrels, Joe and Sallie Black, James Heinrich, MD, The British Community of Jakarta by Eileen Hutton, Tim Canfield-Canfield Construction, Direct Relief International, Graham Farrar, Greg Fowler, Tom and Barbara Harold, Stephen and Loretta Hester, Kenneth and Judy Margolis, The Oshman Foundation by Jay and Celine Gerson, Tom and Monica Parr, PT Astra International, James and Zoe Mossman, The Rotary Clubs of Seminyak and Nusa Dua in Bali, The Smart Family Foundation, Janet Perry, Ken and Deena West, The Don and Elinor Wilson Foundation by Scott and Carlene Wilson, The WWW Foundation by Brian Hodges and Bryce Rhodes We also wish to thank the Indonesian Ministry of Health as well as the Sumba District Health office for the support they have given to our Health Programs. I thank you all for joining us in making a difference for those that need it the most. Claude Graves Founder and Managing Director The Sumba foundation