Why Plan works in

is an extremely poor country with more than half of the population living on less than £1 a day. People are currently living under extremely difficult political, economic and social conditions; inflation and unemployment are soaring, and there is an acute shortage of food and fuel. Many families do not have access to good healthcare and it is estimated that 1 in 8 children dies before their fifth birthday.  Malaria, despite being a preventable and treatable disease, is the second most common cause of death for children under five. 

All children should have access to good healthcare facilities and it is crucial that mothers have access to healthcare, information and services to help them bring up healthy children.

How you can help

We aim to raise funds to train 2,640 community healthcare workers so that they can diagnose and treat minor illnesses, as well as refer cases of malaria and more complicated illnesses to professional doctors. 

We also aim to raise funds to establish and give training to 328 health committees who will play a key role in raising awareness about the signs of malaria, supporting and encouraging community members to use mosquito nets and give advice about anti-malarial drugs.  The committees will take a neighbour-to-neighbour approach, whereby each person trained will train three to five more members of the community.  They will also form a link with schools and enable children to participate in creating “malaria-safe” environments, influencing both adults and other children.

Plan enables poor communities to take action together to achieve children’s rights to an education, decent healthcare, clean drinking water and more. We give long-term practical support so poor communities can improve the lives of their children and themselves. We also campaign to change the way a whole range of adults - from parents to politicians - think and act, because we know their decisions can perpetuate poverty. 

Children themselves can be powerful advocates for change, so we encourage them to take part in decision making, from village councils to national assemblies. And because children will be the leaders of tomorrow, we believe that strengthening their voices now will create a fairer, better world - now and in the future.

This is just one of many projects within Plan’s wider health programme. With your support, this project can make a difference to the lives of many children, families and communities in .