A Mother, Nine Children, and a Mosquito Net Against Malaria

In Zambezia Province, the life of 39-year-old Madina is marked by a silent and persistent struggle against climate-related hardships and disease. Between maize, cassava, and other crops that sustain the family, Madina and her husband raise nine children. In this region, however, agriculture is not the only challenge: malaria remains an invisible and constant threat that spares no one. 

Even in 2026, the disease struck Madina’s household once again, and with severity. 
“My newborn son who is nine months old and I both contracted malaria,” she recalls. 

The memories of high fever and the baby’s weak crying are still vivid. “His body was very hot; he couldn’t breastfeed or eat anything,” she remembers. Alarmed, the family rushed to the health facility, returning home only the day before the visit of the team carrying out the Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) distribution campaign. This episode added to recent experiences involving her daughters Jucilene, aged three, and Mejurda, aged ten, who had also fallen ill with malaria. 

Madina’s story reflects a major public health challenge. In 2022, Mozambique recorded more than 12 million malaria cases. In Mocuba District alone, cases increased by 2.1% in 2025, reaching over 311,000 people. 

Hope was renewed for Madina’s family with the arrival of the ITNs distribution campaign, funded by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Preliminary data indicate that more than 4 million mosquito nets were distributed across Zambezia Province, benefiting over 7 million people. 

Before the campaign, Madina’s four old nets were damaged and full of holes, which the family tried, unsuccessfully, to repair. Now, with the new nets received, the family’s commitment is total. “I like the mosquito net because we sleep comfortably… and it prevents malaria,” says Madina. “All of us will sleep under the net.” 

The impact of the campaign goes beyond the physical distribution of nets. One of the main challenges remains ensuring correct and consistent use. Data show that in Zambézia Province, only 37% of children and 38% of pregnant women slept under a mosquito net on the night preceding the 2022/23 Demographic and Health Survey. 

It is within this context that the Ministry of Health and civil society partners, including World Vision, Fundação para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade, Food for the Hungry Association, Aid for Development from People to People, and community structures, play an indispensable role. Social and Behavior Change activities are essential to ensure that families like Madina’s not only receive mosquito nets but also use them correctly and consistently. 

To guarantee sustained protection, district health service teams, community and religious leaders, as well as health committee volunteers, are actively engaged in raising awareness among families to hang their nets immediately, sleep under them every night, care for them, and repair them when needed, ensuring effective coverage between campaigns. 

By Fernando Bambo, Communications Manager for Global Fund Malaria Project