The board of directors of Malaria Partners Zimbabwe is proud to announce the January 20, 2024 official launch event for the organization. The event will take place at the Pumpkin Hotel in Mudzi District, with festivities beginning promptly at 08:30 and ending at 14:30.

Malaria Partners Zimbabwe (MPZim) is an affiliate of Malaria Partners International (MPI), located in Seattle, WA, USA. The shared mission of the two organizations is “To ignite a global Rotarian campaign for the eradication of malaria”. Founded by local Rotarians in 2009, MPI has developed affiliate organizations serving 13 countries in Africa, with MPZim being the newest.

The MPI/MPZim model takes advantage of service-minded Rotarians in the host countries who serve as conduits through which Rotarians extend a hand of service to communities. Discussions about developing a Zimbabwe-based affiliate began in 2019 after the successful completion of an MPI-funded Small Grant project executed by the Harare based Rotary Club of Msasa.

Led by board chair, Sam Chikowore, MPZim’s board is comprised of Rotarians from four Rotary clubs throughout Zimbabwe who bring their skills and passion to its immediate goal of reducing severe malaria and deaths in the region, particularly among young children. “We value the partnership we have built with the Ministry of Health and local partners and believe that it is by continuing to build partnerships with like-minded stakeholders that we will be able to amplify Rotary’s efforts to end malaria,” said Mr. Chikowore.

MPZim’s first large-scale project will occur in the Mudzi District in Mashonaland East. This project will mobilize malaria elimination efforts in partnership with the Methodist Church of Zimbabwe, Isdell Flowers, Child Health and the Ministry of Health. It will provide two three-day trainings for 73 Community Health Workers who will each provide community based malaria case management for 100 rural households.

With 1.4 million members worldwide, and a strong network in Zimbabwe, Rotary is ideally suited to provide “boots on the ground” to spread the word about malaria elimination, to advocate for programs and resources, and to help end deaths from malaria. No child should die from this preventable and treatable disease.

For more information, please contact:

Malaria Partners Zimbabwe Contact:

Sam Chikowore, MPZim Board Chair

Email: samchikowore@hotmail.com

www.malariapartnersinternational.org

Malaria Partners International Contact:

Marsha Mutisi, Secretary, Malaria Partners International

Email: mambokadzi@msn.com

www.malariapartnersinternational.org