Save the Children
In Malawi, ranked among the top 20 countries for the highest rates of malaria, around 2 million school children experience this disease every year, endangering their health and disrupting their education. Save the Children Australia is working with the Malawi Government and local educators to introduce healthcare into classrooms, focusing on the management of uncomplicated malaria cases and other basic health concerns during school hours.
Concentrating on schools in vulnerable areas in Zomba and Machinga districts, our partnership will equip an additional 600 teachers to diagnose and treat malaria using Learner Treatment Kits, safeguarding 220,000 students across 150 schools. By striving for a 30% reduction in malaria-related illnesses, we’re integrating health services with education and mobilising community and government support. This initiative is a critical step towards reducing malaria’s impact on children’s health and education in Malawi, ensuring they have the opportunity to attend school and thrive.
Personal stories /
Empowering teachers
to fight malaria in Malawi
to fight malaria in Malawi
In Malawi’s Zomba and Machinga districts—regions where malaria poses a severe threat—Save the Children’s Learner Treatment Kit initiative is proving transformative. Over the past nine months, 400 teachers across 100 schools have been trained to dispense life-saving treatment, diagnosing and treating 14,165 malaria cases.
By providing 125,276 school children with free and timely access to malaria testing and treatment, the program has significantly reduced absenteeism and brought more consistent access to health services within schools. What sets this initiative apart is its alignment with Malawi’s national health and education systems.
Endorsed by Malawi’s Minister of Health, Hon Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, as “one of the best intervention initiatives” for managing malaria, the program is gaining national and international attention. The Learner Treatment Kit program is a powerful example of how integrated solutions can address pressing health challenges while building the foundation for broader educational success.