Malaria
Malaria remains the foremost killer disease in Nigeria. It accounts for over 25% of under-5 mortality, 30% childhood mortality and 11% maternal mortality. At least 50% of the population has at least one episode of malaria annually while children that are aged less than 5 years (about 24 million) have 2 to 4 attacks annually (FMOH 2002). The disease is particularly virulent among pregnant women and children under 5 years of age, due to their low levels of immunity.
To address the importance of both malaria treatment and prevention, SFH malaria programming centers on Pre-Packaged Therapy (PPT) and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs).

Pre-Packaged Therapy: KidACT an Artemesinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT)
The PPT was instituted by Society for Family Health to improve malaria home management in Nigeria. Currently, the three major obstacles to appropriate malaria treatment in Nigeria are:
• Administration of incorrect dosages of anti-malarial drugs
• Lack of compliance to the treatment regimen
• Lack of knowledge and experience of the effective anti-malaria treatment known as Artemesinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) – resulting from the change in malaria treatment policy.

Society for Family Health launched KidCare Pre-Packaged Therapy (PPT) in 2003 and stopped its distribution in 2006 in line with the Federal Ministry of Health’s new treatment policy on malaria. SFH did the first pan Nigerian radio campaign to promote the new policy of using Artemisinine-based Combination Therapy (ACT) as the new first line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. A new brand of ACT for Children KidACT is being developed and will be launched in the first quartert of 2008. The brand will be heavily subsidized price-wise for affordability to poor and vulnerable Nigerians who bear the brunt of malaria in our society.

Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs)
Malaria prevention is equally as important as malaria treatment – it is estimated that prevention alone could save Nigeria billions of Naira in treatment expenses and foregone wages due to illness-related unemployment.

PermaNet LLINs are factory-treated mosquito nets that are safe, easy to use, and come in a variety of sizes and colors to address individual needs. PermaNet LLINs are effective for up to 4 years and will last a minimum of 20 washes – they require no re-treatment during this time, making them 5-10 times more effective than normally treated mosquito nets. LLINs are an inexpensive and easy way of preventing malaria from burdening the health and economic well-being of Nigerians.

Safe Water System
As a result of inadequate water supply infrastructure, over 42% of the Nigerian population lacks access to improved water supply sources. As the government and donor communities work to improve this situation, interim steps are critical to addressing the point-of-use dangers associated with the ingestion of contaminated water. Diarrhoeal diseases alone are responsible for 27% of all infant morbidity and 24% of all infant mortality in Nigeria.

WaterGuard
SFH offers a simple and inexpensive safe water product that was developed by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). WaterGuard is point-of-use hypochlorite solution that can be easily administered to treat contaminated water and make it safe for drinking for individuals of all ages. One bottle of WaterGuard can provide treated water to a family of six for approximately one month at very minimal cost. WaterGuard is also particularly effective in mitigating and containing cholera outbreaks – the product was distributed by SFH to eight cholera outbreak sites in 2005 and proved a critical component in saving hundreds of lives.

While long-term plans to construct piped, chlorinated water supply infrastructure are underway, WaterGuard provides an important and inexpensive alternative to accessing treated water in the short-term. Clean water is a universal human right.

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