Data collection

On malaria and data collection in Rusinga we have been collecting data on the occurrences of mosquitoes and breeding sites for several years now. Why? Because, to control the Malaria mosquitoes; we have to know it! We need basic information for planning our intervention, which is actual in the breeding sites. We need to identify our target population; we are therefore collecting data to address, If there are malaria causing mosquitoes in the area and which ones, at what time of the year regarding season? How high is the density of the Malaria vectors in the area ( larvae and adults)? When is the density highest in the year? Which other mosquitoes are around that are not malaria mosquitoes and how many? What are the different mosquito breeding sites? Are the breeding sites available throughout the year? How do the breeding place look like, how do they differ? How can we prevent mosquito breeding in the various sites? How to distinguish between the habitats? We were assisted by National Institute of Health based in USA for two years. The project was named Community empowerment for Malaria Control for Africa . Now we have formed the Rusinga Malaria Project which is from the empowered community members. I am involved in as malaria resource person in charge of data collection and analysis. We were supposed to start actual control on the breeding sites and this was to take the second phase of the project. We didn’t receive funds. We have to combined ICT training for youths, and women with Malaria programme, we cannot leave one behind for literacy purposes. These and much more information is done throughout the year now in Rusinga Island by 70 malaria surveillance team members (MST) who are volunteers. In our survey we try to characterize the breeding sites (water bodies) we find to get an idea on which sites are the most attractive ones for malaria causing Mosquito to breed in. We are going to use this number to train them in using open source software to maintain data collection.