This ones for you, Franklin.

***This was written for a publication in Kenya, but this is your story, Franklin.***

This is a story about kids, kids in America and kids in Kenya.  These kids have never met but they know of each other and are part of a bigger story.

In June 2012, children from Franklin, Kentucky learned about malaria during vacation bible schools at Franklin First United Methodist Church and Calvary Baptist Church.  The children decided to help kids living in areas with malaria and raised money to purchase long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets for orphans living in western Kenya.  Two teenage church members, Kaylee Searcy and Madison Holloway, decided to forgo their birthday presents last summer and instead, asked their family and friends to donate money to purchase more nets.

As a result of the kids’ efforts in Franklin, Kentucky, 1200 nets have been purchased and distributed in western Kenya.  The nets have been distributed with the help of Odiado Tumaini Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Association located in Busia County, Kenya.  Odiado OVC was established in 2010 to provide assistance to children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS.   Many of the children have HIV infection, which makes them more susceptible to severe malaria.  Therefore, it is important that this group of vulnerable children sleep under a net every night to prevent malaria infections. 

What is the connection between Franklin, Kentucky and Busia County, Kenya?  A Peace Corps volunteer named Sarah Kaufmann, who is part of the Stomping Out Malaria in Africa Initiative.  Sarah lived in Kentucky and worked with children and youth at Franklin First United Methodist Church for 4 years and is now serving a 2-year assignment in Kenya.  Sarah works with the Odiado OVC on a range of issues with a focus on malaria prevention activities.  Along with Odiado OVC fieldworkers, Sarah makes household visits to ensure the nets are hanging and being used properly to prevent malaria in this community.

In January 2013, 15 homes were visited and every household had their nets hanging.  In February, 13 homes were visited.  The households that had nets for every family member reported no malaria cases since they received nets in 2012.  Unfortunately, some households did not have nets to cover everyone, and these households reported malaria cases.  The Odiado OVC is now selling subsidized nets at a price families can afford because of donors.  Community members can now purchase nets locally to ensure everyone in the family can sleep under a net to prevent malaria.

In Kenya, over 75% of the population is at risk of malaria, and malaria kills 34,000 children less than 5 years of the age every year.  Malaria was eradicated in the United States in the early 1950s.  No matter which country a child is born into, every child deserves to celebrate a 5^th birthday.  Ensuring every child in a malaria-endemic area sleeps under a net every night is a simple, inexpensive way to increase the odds.  Joining forces from Kentucky to Kenya to fight malaria is a start to ensuring every child celebrates a 5^th birthday.