Malaria Partners International (MPI) is proud to support this project through a $10,000 Community Impact Grant.
Global Grant GG2782117
International partner: Rotary Club of White Bear Lake, Minnesota,
Host partner: Rotary Club of Bo, Sierra Leone,
Implementing partner: Rural Health Care Initiative (RHCI), a Minnesota-based nonprofit working in Sierra Leone | rhcimnsl.org
Report prepared by Carol Nelson, Rotary Club of White Bear Lake:
Thank you for supporting this two-year initiative to reduce malaria illness and death in rural Sierra Leone. Grant activities began in February 2026, and all three program components are now underway.
Sierra Leone has a population of 8.5 million and carries a heavy malaria burden. More than 6,000 people die from the disease each year, most of them children. This report summarizes progress from February through mid-September 2026 in the three program areas: malaria case management, malaria vaccination, and village malaria campaigns. Implementation is active in all three areas.
Because the project is still in its early months, this report focuses on activities completed and initial results; comprehensive program data will be presented at the end of Year One.
1. Community Based Malaria Case Management
In March 2026, six previously trained community health workers began providing malaria case management through the grant. Following the May training, the program expanded to 12 trained CHWs. Six additional CHWs are scheduled for training in December. Several CHWs serve two villages.
Community Health Worker Training
The training strengthened CHWs’ knowledge and practical skills in malaria case management, community based health care, data reporting, and their role in local prevention and education.
May 7, 2026: Newly recruited CHWs completed foundational training.
May 8, 2026: The new CHWs joined five experienced CHWs for refresher training, mentoring, and peer learning. Facilitators included Steven Massaquoi, Chiefdom Supervisor; the RHCI team; and representatives of the Bo District Health Management Team. Participating communities included Benduma, Sembehun Kokofele, Njala, Julian, Gbalehun, Sunga, Lembema II, Konta, Gondohun, Gelehun, Yengesa and Kassama
Dr. Daniel Sama of the Rotary Club of Bo thanked participants for their commitment and described the CHWs as “malaria ambassadors,” recognizing their essential role in prevention, case management, and community education.
Grant-funded supplies for community health workers included:
- Malaria rapid diagnostic tests
- Artemisinin-based combination therapy for malaria treatment
- Amoxicillin, oral rehydration solution, and zinc for other common childhood illnesses
- Mobile phones and airtime for data collection and reporting
- Power banks
- Backpacks
- Ledger books
The 12 trained CHWs are all actively testing for and treating malaria in their villages, with several of the CHW’s serving more than one village.
Stakeholder and Community Meetings
RHCI and the Rotary Club of Bo held meetings in all newly selected project locations to introduce the malaria case management program, renew community partnerships, and build local ownership.
Meetings were held in the following communities:
- April 28: Gendema, serving Gendema and Sunga; Julian, serving Julian and Wubangay; and Gbalehun
- April 29: Yengesa, serving Yengesa, Baoma, and Adala; and Sembehun Kokofele, serving Sembehun Kokofele and Gbangema
- May 7–8: Gbalehun, Kassama, Sunga, Sembehun Kokofele, and Gbangema
Early Outcomes and Community Feedback
Community members consistently identified malaria as one of their most serious health concerns and welcomed the project. They committed to supporting CHWs, mobilizing residents, monitoring activities, and maintaining cleaner surroundings.
- The Rotary Club of Bo encouraged each community to take ownership of the work and participate actively in implementation and oversight.
- RHCI reviewed the project’s purpose and explained that priority groups include children ages 6 months through 10 years, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
- Communities were clearly informed that all services are free and that CHWs may not charge fees or misuse medications.
2. Malaria Vaccine Program
Program preparation began in February 2026 with visits to new clinic sites, arrangements for transportation, staff recruitment, supply purchases, scheduling, and community stakeholder meetings.
- On March 13–14, 2026, RHCI conducted Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) training in Tikonko. The training focused on safe vaccine delivery, including the malaria vaccine, and on stronger EPI and RHCI data collection and reporting.
- Ten EPI nurses and assistant nurses from eight health facilities participated: Tikonko, Gondama, Kassama, Sembehun Tabema, Sembehun 17, Torwama, Zion, and Mattru.
- Facilitators were Mohammed Tarawally of the District EPI Unit and Steven Massaquoi, Tikonko Chiefdom Supervisor with the District Health Management Team.
- Daniel Sama represented the Rotary Club of Bo and explained Rotary’s Global Grant support for health programs. Brima Bayon of the District Malaria Unit also participated.
- The training concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding and distribution of mobile phones, bags, ledgers, and other tools needed for implementation and reporting.
Visits by the EPI nurses are currently ongoing, supported by motorbike transportation. During visits, EPI nurses also update children on other vaccines due and provide vitamin A and albendazole for deworming when indicated. Over 100 villages in the Chiefdom receive these services monthly. Vaccines are supplied through GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization.
3. Village Malaria Campaigns
From September through December 2026, four villages are participating in intensive malaria campaigns. All residents in each village are tested once a month for three months near the end of the rainy season, and all who test positive on RDT will receive treatment. The first campaign took place in Njala on September 3 and the second at Wubangay on September 10. The campaigns aim to reduce malaria transmission by identifying and treating both symptomatic patients and people who carry malaria parasites without symptoms.
^ A previous pilot study provided the resources for the September 2025 campaign.
Financial update
Grant expenditures to date include:
- Training materials, facilitator stipends, participant stipends, transportation, and refreshments
- Stipends and salaries for 10 EPI nurses, 12 malaria case management CHWs, four motorbike riders, three RHCI support staff, and one chiefdom supervisor and trainer
- Motorbike fuel and repairs; smartphones, airtime, backpacks, gloves and medications
- Malaria vaccines, supplied at no cost through Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO Invoices and receipts are being collected for all expenditures.
As of September 1, 2026, 25 percent of the $134,600 grant has been used.
Next Steps and Reporting
Implementation will continue across all three program areas. Six additional CHWs are scheduled for training in December, and the four village campaigns will continue through the end of 2026. Villages (that are yet to be selected) will host the malaria campaigns at the end of the rainy season in 2027. Comprehensive program data and outcomes will be reported at the end of Year One. The Grant will be completed in February 2028.
For questions or further information, contact Carol Nelson MD, MPH; Rotary Club of White Bear Lake Carolnelson855@gmail.com 651-503-1369
An estimated 9300 children will benefit from this Rotary Grant through vaccines or treatment.