World Malaria Day 2014

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

According to the WHO global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 42% globally and 49% in Africa. Malaria remains the biggest killer of man with 75% of deaths occuring in children under the age of five in Africa.

Mosquito net distribution to rural clinics

This past rainy season has been relentless, which has caused a substantial increase in new cases of malaria, especially in the Mukuni Chiefdom. We are currently working with Biotech International who have created products including Mozzimort for malaria prevention. Our aim is to present these products to the Zambian Ministry of Health and the Malaria Control Centre to gain approval. In the meantime more mosquito nets are needed for children in remote villages. We are currently funding malaria prevention workshops within the communities.

Mosquito Distribution to Rural Clinics

I am about to leave for Zambia where we have some exciting projects underway. A new Special Education unit for Simango Primary School, expansions to Muchimbale and Chuunga Community Schools and a bore hole for Nampuyani Community School, funded by Attraction Tickets Direct through Just a Drop, who are sending two engineers to give advice on our water projects. I will also be welcoming William Anderson of Teamworks and ten colleagues who are funding and constructing four community houses. Cansaf, South Africa are shortly taking forty delegates to visit our pojects at Mukuni Village.

Mosquito Nets are vital for Malaria Prevention

All our projects are vitally important, none more so than malaria prevention. A mosquito net costs just £5 ($8) and could save a child’s life, you can make a donation on our website – no adminstration costs will be deducted.

Christmas 2013 – Newsletter

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Christmas is almost upon us and thanks to the tremendous support from our donors, fundraisers and volunteers around the globe many rural children in Zambia have a better future ahead of them.

Malaria Prevention – distribution of mosquito nets

December has been an incredibly good month for fundraising, most especially thanks to The Big Give Christmas Challenge, when we raised £15,000 in pledges and donations, which will be be doubled through their Charity Champion Fund and The Reed Foundation. In addition we received donations from the US, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, France, Ireland and Switzerland and of course the UK, showing how The Butterfly Tree has attracted donors from all over the world.

We now have funds in place for hundreds more mosquito nets for our malaria prevention program, a teacher’s house, classrooms, seeds for school gardens. stationery for schools and over twenty new orphans added to our orphan sponsorship programme. Providing the essentials in life is what these communities most need to enable them to have a healthier and happier life.

New teacher’s house coming for Muchimbale Community School

The Butterfly Tree team would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach out to thousands and orphaned children in the Southern Province of Zambia. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Safe Water for Schools in Zambia

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I am currently in Zambia visiting The Butterfly Tree projects. The temperature is 38 degrees and rising as the rainy season approaches. Not a drop of rain has fallen for almost six months and the earth is parched, the rivers are low and the streams have run dry. Earlier in the week, accompanied by Mupotola, the secretary to The Butterfly Tree in Zambia, I drove to the Nyawa Chiefdom. The village we were aiming for was Muchimbale, 100 kilometers to Zimba then a further 36 kilometers into the bush.

Dry stream – Nyawa Chiefdom

Muchimbale has a small community school where children previously had to walk 5 kilometers every day to fetch water, which took 3 hours out of their time table. Thanks to a generous donor the school now has its own bore hole and it certainly was a joyful sight to see the children pumping and drinking safe clean water. In addition this donor has funded two double latrines for the pupils. In the same Chiefdom we have installed a bore hole at Kauwe Basic School through Just a Drop’s donor Epsom College. A third bore hole has been donated by Attraction Tickets Direct. Unfortunately, as yet, we have not been able to source water at Kanimbwa School. Such are the challenges when working in these remote communities.

New bore hole and hand pump – Muchimbale Community School

Heading towards the Botswana border I drove with Martin, our ground operation’s manager, to Mambova to check on the women’s shelter we have constructed at the clinic. This is for women who live in outreach villages to come and stay at the clinic prior to labour, ensuring a much safer place to deliver infants. After donating some bandages and dressing, which I gave to the resident nurse, I drove to River View Basic School where we recently completed a special education unit, kindly donated by the employees at ENRC Marketing AG, Zurich. This will open at the start of the new school year in January when thirty children, who had previously never attended school, can be taught by trained government teachers. In the meantime mainstream pupils are using it to prepare for examinations as their existing classroom is a tent.

New special education classroom for in January 2014 – River View Basic School

With only one week left before I fly back to the UK much has still to be done. The official opening of the new clinic at Mahalulu, the orphan sponsorship to update, mosquito nets to distribute thanks to Saga’s support to our malaria prevention programme and text books to buy. Most schools lack text books with some classes having only one to share among 60 pupils. At times the need is so overwhelming, but the progress we are making in the Kazungula District is considerable. During a recent survey on the Mukuni Chiefdom made possible by USAID and Share, The Butterfly Tree came out on top as the best contributor! Our work has now spread to the Chiefdoms of Musokotwane, Nyawa and Sikute.

World Malaria Day 2013

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

‘Despite recent progress, about half the world’s population still lives in malaria risk areas and malaria remains a leading cause of death amongst young children‘.

Every 60 seconds a child dies from malaria
Globally malaria is the biggest killer of man
86% of people who die from malaria are children under 5 mostly in sub-Sahara Africa
660 000 estimated malaria deaths globally
219 million malaria cases worldwide

World Malaria Day: Prevention is the only way to save precious lives

Malaria disease caused by P.falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection. Most at risk are those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with HIV and AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria protection. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications. Until there is a cure, malaria prevention is the only way to save lives. In developing countries like Zambia using impregnated mosquito nets is essential. Sadly there are insufficient government supplies to reach everyone.

This net found in Kamwi Village was full of holes and shared between four children

The Butterfly Tree’s malaria prevention program provides mosquito nets, malaria testing kits and educational workshops. One of our major donors Saga Charitable Trust, has donated enough funds for every household in the Mukuni Chiefdom to each have three nets. The result is that there are no new cases of malaria where nets are being used. This year we have also distributed nets to four clinics in the Sekute Chiefdom, many of the villages are close to the Zambezi River, a breeding ground for mosquito. These were generously donated by Grant and Marilee Gibson of Canada. Though malaria can easily be treated far too often people have to walk over 30 kilometres to seek treatment due to the lack of rural clinics.

Jacob (left) delivers nets to Mandea Rural Health Centre in the Sikute Chiefdom

Our team in Zambia have recently identified an area in the Nyawa Chiefdom. Kauwe Health Centre report on average of six new cases of malaria a week, this is particularly high. In Mukuni and Sekute the numbers have dropped to between two and three cases per month. We are appealing for funds to purchase 3300 impregnated mosquito nets to cover a population of 8000. Each net costs just £5 ($8). If you would like to make a donation it could save a child’s life.

World Malaria Day 2012

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

‘The theme for World Malaria Day 2012 – Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria – marks a decisive juncture in the history of malaria control. Whether the malaria map will keep shrinking, as it has in the past decade, or be reclaimed by the malaria parasites, depends, to a great extent, on the resources that will be invested in control efforts over the next years. In Africa, malaria deaths have been cut by one third within the last decade’. This is what is stated by the World Malaria Organisation. It remains a very sensitive issue and will only continue to be successful with global funding. Malaria is still the biggest killer of man, with 75% of all deaths occurring in children under five in sub-Sahara Africa.

World Malaria Day: Distribution of mosquito nets – Mukuni Chiefdom

Sadly I do not see very little of this funding reaching rural communities where we work. During my recent trip to Zambia I came across more new cases of malaria than in previous years. The government are supposed to provide mosquito nets to all children under five and pregnant women. The Mukuni Chiefdom has a population of 20,000, since January 2011 the community has received only 100 nets from the Department of Health. Thanks to a generous annual donation from Saga Charitable Trust we run a malaria prevention program in the Chiefdom. In March we distributed 400 mosquito nets to outreach villages as well as purchasing malaria testing kits , which are equally important. Early testing is vital especially in this region where P. falciparum is prevalent and may result in death within hours or a few days of infection. It is also crucial that the people are educated about the dangers of malaria as early symptoms can appear to be flu-like making it imperative to seek immediate medical advice if there is a fever. If caught in time it can be easily treated.

Twin boys from Chibale contract malaria

Today I will be attending an event to mark World Malaria Day at the Commonwealth Secretariat. A number of key speakers will address and consult on global malaria. Topics will include malaria control, women and children’s vulnerability to malaria and most alarmingly the growing resistance to malaria medications. Until there is a cure prevention is essential, providing mosquito nets and malaria testing kits will continue to be one of our main priorities. You can help us! Donate a mosquito net for as little as £5, which could save the precious life of a child.

Success of orphan sponsorship

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Peter Liyungu was the first orphan to be accepted on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program, some five years ago, when we first started operating in Mukuni Village back in 2006. At the time despite being very intelligent, Peter had lost interest in his education after loosing both parents and having no funds to continue. A sponsor was sought and this transformed his life; as there was no high school at Mukuni Peter wanted to go to boarding school and subsequently attended Zimba High. We are also sponsoring his younger brother Mishek.

Orphan Sponsorship: Peter with brother Mishek – February 2007

I am delighted to say that after four years Peter has completed grade twelve and did exceedingly well in his exams. In his own words Peter wished to thank his sponsors.

‘It is my pleasure to show my gratitude and say thank you for opening up my life to a dream come true. You are my father and my mother who would have done the same if they were alive. It takes a strong sole to take up the work of someone else.

I must let you know that I have made it through my senior secondary with 16 points which gives me the opportunity to apply for university. It is because of you that I have achieved this, your contribution to my education and my life in all was not in vain and once more thank you for making my dream come true.’

Peter after completing high school – February 2011

To date The Butterfly Tree has sponsored over 400 idividual orphans in addition to providing nutritional feeding programs, classrooms, teachers’ houses and bore holes holes. Our healthcare projects including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention, boosted by a recent donation from Viking River Cruises, are all for the benefit of these vulnerable children. One of the great things about working in these rural communities is that when we can assist with the orphans’ education, there is always someone who will offer to be a guardian, whether it be a family member, a friend or even a teacher. This is by far more preferable than having to leave their village and be placed in an orphange in town.

Sponsored daily feeding program at Mukuni Village Schools

There are over 700,000 orphans in Zambia alone and they desperately need your support. Education is the only way they can get out of the cycle of poverty to enable them to better their situation. For as little as £110 per annum or just £10 per month a child’s life can be transformed. The money is used to pay for school and exam fees, books, shoes, uniform and school bag. In addition to this the children receive a daily nutritional meal, such as the one at Mukuni, sponsored by Cunninghams. The Butterfly Tree provides educational workshops, using interactive DVD’s donated by TME, teaching the pupils about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, malaria, teenage pregnancy, drugs and alcohol.

If you would like to sponsor an orphan like Peter or Mishek and make another child’s dream come true, please complete the online form or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Listen to the orphans singing with the Mukuni Basic Choir on Youtube

Follow our progress on Facebook

World Malaria Day

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today is World Malaria Day. The Butterfly Tree is committed to continue helping the fight to reduce the burden of malaria, the biggest killer of man. Although the number of deaths have declined over the last decade 75% of deaths caused by malaria are children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa. Zambia is no exception.

Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.

World Malaria Day: help prevent Paddington from contracting malaria

Until a cure is found prevention is the only way to avert this dehabilatating disease, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Providing mosquito nets, malaria tests and educational workshops effectively reduces the number of new cases. Saga Charitable Trust donates annually to our malaria prevention program, enabling us to provide this vital aid. The Zambian government’s aim is to distribute mosquito nets every child under five as well as pregnant women. Sadly the supplies are insufficient and there is a massive shortfall. UCL GDI members recently hel fund-raising events during One World Week and donated the money to our program.

Just £5 ($8) will buy a mosquito net and could save a child’s life. The Butterfly Tree has produced a charity CD, called ‘Change for the Better’ this can be downloaded for £2 or £3 for a CD – all proceeds go to the malaria prevention program.

Malaria season at Mukuni

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

October in Zambia sees the temperatures soaring to over 40 degrees. After 6 months of parched earth and clear blue skies the clouds start to form as the rainy season approaches bringing a welcome relief for everything to come alive – seeds and crops can be sown, the dry streams fill up and the burden of walking long distances to draw water finally eases. For everyone this is a time to rejoice including the dreaded mosquitoes. With the rains comes a higher risk of catching Africa malaria, the biggest killer of man, over one million deaths occur each year. 75% of all deaths are children under the age of five in Sub-Sahara Africa and Mukuni is no exception.

Africa Malaria – help to prevent this young Mukuni boy from getting malaria

Mosquito nets should be provided by the government for all under fives and pregnant women, however this is not always the case. Working in rural villages I find that there is a huge shortfall with several children sleeping under one net. Equally as important are malaria testing kits as the disease is easily treated if caught in time. In the areas where we have distributed nets no new cases have been reported, however there were 65 new cases in an area where we were unale to reach. Mukuni Health Centre has not received any testing kits for three years from the health department and without our support the statistics would be much higher. Thanks to a generous annual donation from Saga Charitble Trust we are able to provide vital workshops, educating the communities on the dangers of Africa malaria and the importance of nets and testing kits.

Buy this song – it could save a child’s life

Earlier this year we launched a charity song called, ‘Change for the Better‘ to raise further awareness and funds for the global fight against malaria. Basement Entertainment are hosting an event, to celebrate Zambian Independence Day, in London on the 23rd October to further promote the cause. Their theme will be ‘Change for the Better’ and The Butterfly Tree with be the beneficiary of this event. The CD and download are available for purchase, with all profits going to our malaria program, via: www.changeforthebetter.bandcamp.com

World Malaria Day – 2010

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

World Malaria Day marks the unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of malaria throughout the world. Africa malaria is the biggest killer of man, with 75% of deaths occuring in children under the age of five in Sub-Sahara Africa. There are almost one million new cases recorded every year.

According to the World Health Organization half of the world’s population are at risk of malaria. While there are four parasites that can cause malaria in humans, Plasmodium falciparum is by far the most deadly and common, this strain is prevelant in Zambia. Once a person is bitten by a P. falciparum carrying mosquito, the parasite grows, multiplies, and undergoes a series of complex life cycle changes that allow it to invade the immune system and infect the liver and red blood cells. Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria. It can also result in the miscarriage in pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.

The Butterfly Tree provides mosquito nets, malaria testing kits and educational workshops for remote villages, such as Mukuni, in Zambia. The long-lasting insecticide treated nets provide nightly protection, the most vulnerable time is between 10pm and 5am when most bites occur. The result of last year’s distribution of nets is that no new cases of malaria have been reported. Providing malaria testing kits is equally important, though malaria cannot be cured it can easily be treated if caught in time. Education is the key; workshops in the communities teach them the dangers of malaria, the importance of nets and the need to be tested.

‘Change for the Better’

Lillian Mweene from Mukuni Village, having completed her education after being on our orphan sponsorship program, told me she wanted to be a musician. I then listened to her sing and contacted Basement Entertainment UK, who put me in touch with TY2, one of Zambians top male artists. Ty2 called me and offered his help, I suggested that it would be great to have our own charity song. He then met me Livingstone, bringing fellow artist Crystal Shaun and Kaufela from Zambezi Fm to record a song. Lillian was invited to join them, the words were written by the artsits themselves and recorded at Raising Sounds Studio with a bonus track from Lillian. Change for the Better was completed in less than two days. We are grateful to the following who have also donated their services: the artists, Raising Sounds Studio, Zambezi Fm, Hiltongrove Mastering, Basement Entertainment UK, PSW Printers and Xpresscds. No less tha 80% of the sale to be used for The Butterfly Tree Malaria Program, sponsored by Saga Charitable Trust with support from Viking River Cruises. The song is available to purchase, on this website, as a CD for £5 or download for £2 and in shops throughout Zambia from May.

Buy the CD or download via: www.changeforthebetter.bandcamp.com

Please buy this song and save a child’s life