Protecting children from malaria in The Gambia

Nyima with two of her kids.

Every night in their rural community in The Gambia’s Lower River Region, Nyima tucks her young children into bed beneath the canopy of a soft, conical bed net. For the mother of eight, it’s more than just a nighttime routine: It’s a sigh of relief.

“Thanks to ChildFund, all my children under 5 years old sleep comfortably under a bed net,” she shares. “The older ones used to complain about the rough texture of the old nets, and the rectangular ones were hard to manage in our small room. But these new bed nets are soft, easy to use, and keep mosquitoes away. We’ve seen fewer mosquito bites – and fewer tears.”

Nyima’s family was one of thousands to receive bed nets recently when ChildFund, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, distributed 16,000 insecticide-treated, conical bed nets to prevent malaria across three high-risk regions of The Gambia – Lower River, Central River and Upper River. The distribution focused on households with children under 5 and pregnant women, two groups most vulnerable to malaria.

ChildFund staff demonstrate how to set up the bed nets.

The feedback has been heartwarming – and powerful.

“My children used to cry at night from mosquito bites,” says Musa, a father of six. “Since we received the new bed nets, they’ve stopped crying. They sleep peacefully now.”

The local health authorities agree that the new nets are making a difference. These families are better protected from malaria, which remains a leading cause of death for children under 5. But the need is still great.

As Ceesay, another grateful parent, put it: “All three of my children now sleep comfortably, but many families in my community didn’t get a net. Please send more.”

You can help us do exactly that. Let’s make sure no child has to suffer from mosquito-borne illness when the solution is so simple – and so effective!