Foundation supports rotarians in malaria fight

OIL Search Foundation (OSF) is supporting Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) as they work to prevent malaria in remote parts of Papua New Guinea.
Launched last August, and due to run until at least late 2020, the OSF-RAM partnership will ensure that appropriate medicines are always on hand in Gulf and Hela hospitals, and provide communities with mosquito nets.
By providing transport, accommodation and logistical support, along with a vast list of good local contacts, OSF has already helped RAM teams deliver over 130,000 nets to some 260,000 residents in the provinces.
For OSF’s Ruby Kenny, the six-week operation provided an example of a strong partnership.
“Rotary sourced their own funds, OSF provided some of the logistical support and together we delivered a tangible benefit to communities,” Kenny said.
“By working together, we travelled quicker and into remote areas than we ever could have managed if we were working alone to ensure people benefited.”
Designed to kill mosquitos, or at least prevent them from biting people in bed, the long-lasting nets come from technology that has led to sharp decreases in malaria world wide.
OSF and RAM are now focused on providing health services in Gulf’s Kikori, Hela and Southern Highlands’ Kutubu – three remote regions where Oil Search has facilities that can support the distribution, and a long track record of serving the community.
OSF executive director Stephanie Copus-Campbell pointed out the need to act fast.
“After being in decline for well over a decade, malaria is on the rise once again,” Copus-Campbell said.
“The last few years have seen a big increase in the number of cases all over the country, with a high proportion of those becoming ill being children under 15.