Nightwatch

I’m currently taking cover from the ominous clouds overhead, huddled up in the nearest hut at the local hotel and waiting patiently for another monsoon to hit. Rainy season has arrived in Senegal. There are negatives and positives to that statement. Some perks are it’s no longer unbearably hot outside, the hallucinogenic greenery starts to reappear all around you and it is kind of fun to run for cover once the winds start howling. Cons? Everyone is in a consistent state of diarrheal misfortune and swollen with various unknown skin infections. Also, sleeping inside is still too muggy and uncomfortable, yet sleeping outside in the cool breeze becomes risky when you could wake up to the tickling raindrops drenching everything you own. And worst of all, deadly mosquitoes come alive. Malaria is at an all-time high.

The last volunteer conference we had was in the beginning of April with the Malaria No More team where we discussed effective methods for fighting again malaria as well as an action plan for the future. Since school is almost over and summer break is starting for everyone, the beginning of June was the perfect time to start seriously working with people about the dangers of malaria and the importance of prevention.

A new program was introduced called “NightWatch”, a 6-day curriculum about malaria designed for young teenagers. The main objective is to show the students that by keeping themselves safe under their mosquito nets, they’re keeping their dreams and goals safe too. With a little help from my counterpart, the health teacher, and the local health worker, we got to work.

The first day, 32 kids showed up! We did a brief overview of the entire week and what to expect. The next day about 50% of the students answered yes when asked if they have a mosquito net, but no, they do not sleep under it.  The other half did not own one at all. When asked why they did not sleep under a net, they had various responses like the fact that it’s too hot, mosquitoes don’t exist, and the nets make them claustrophobic.

We spent the next two days discussing the myths and facts about malaria in engaging conversations, brainstorming ways to combat this horrific disease in a united effort. When asking them if they personally have ever had malaria or if anyone in their families had it, every single student raised their hands. In this simple realization, the students themselves then voiced that they don’t want to see this show of hands in the classrooms of their future children.

The next day, the students sauntered in the classroom beside a big beautifully decorated mosquito net hung from the top of the classroom ceiling. We sorted through the myths, facts, and questions about how to use the net.

Then I passed out flag shaped pieces of white fabric and told the kids to design the flag using crayons and pictures in order to demonstrate their plans for the future.

One of the students decorating her banner

Each student took turns ducking under the mosquito net and presenting to the class their dreams drawn on their flag. We had a surprising variety of career goals such as police women, doctors, nurses, soccer players, and even journalists. After each presentation was over, we clapped and said in unison, “mballen jam” which means, “sleep in peace.”

Group photo under a bed net!

The final two days, the students took a 9 question exam on the malaria and bed net facts we covered all week. Afterward, we taught them to make homemade neem mosquito repellent and handed out certificates of “NightWatch” completion. 

Their certificates included a promise to be the good example for their families by sharing the information they learned and holding their fellow villagers responsible in joining the fight as well. I’ll be doing more follow-up activities in the later months to see how effective the program really was and how much information they retained.

Not only were efforts being made in my village, but almost all the volunteers in my surrounding area agreed to do a neem lotion tourney at our regional meeting in the beginning of the month. We spent the whole second week going around to different villages teaching how to make the mosquito repellent and sensitizing them about malaria.

bowl of neem leaves

PC volunteer Tucker and fellow neighbor stirring the lotion

 Every demonstration seemed positive and successful. We hope that by word of mouth, the local women will be motivated to cook it up and sell it after being satisfied by their personal satisfaction. We're creating a force field against malaria!

The last week of June, the Malaria No More team from Dakar is coming down to my region to talk about even more preventative efforts, ideas, and what the next steps will be. Go team.