By Katherine Kemp, PMI Impact Malaria Communications Coordinator. Editorial contributions from Mary Warsh, PMI Impact Malaria Deputy Project Director.
Both of Mary Mulenga’s children had a fever. With one child on her back and the other seated behind her, Mary rode her bicycle to the nearest health facility in Zambia’s Kalulushi district, where she and her children live. Health workers in the facility assessed that both children had malaria-like symptoms and quickly conducted rapid diagnostic tests. Within minutes, results were available: both children had malaria and were put on artemether-lumefantrine to treat their malaria infections.
“Before the introduction of these tests, it used to be very difficult for us to access such quality and quick services,” said Mary. “Those who were very sick ended up dying. But with this new malaria testing, such things don’t happen.”