Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
Press conference Monday 24 April at 10 am at the BELvue museum Artemisia, a natural and effective "medicine" against malaria On the occasion of the World Malaria Day, on 25 April Can Artemisia annua rid Africa of Malaria? Answer: Yes! Thanks to the Artemisa annua plant. This 1'45 " video presents the plant and its interest for the African populations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTRNDagP70 FAQ Plant: -Artemisia annua, what is it ? It is a plant used for 2000 years by the Chinese to prevent and cure malaria. It also acts as a repellent against mosquitoes. It is consumed in the form of an infusion, dry leaves, powder or capsules. -IDAY deals with education in Africa. Why take an interest in a plant? There is evidence that health has an impact on the quality of education. The results of the School Gardens projects in place since 2008 show a decrease in the absenteeism of the children and the teachers, an increase in school results and a decrease of the healthcare costs of the establishments (budget which is released for other projects). It should also be noted that 3 crises of malaria before the age of 5 decreases by 15% the cognitive abilities of the child. -Why does malaria have an impact on education? A simple example: a teacher has 54 students in his class. His wife is having a malaria attack: he walks 2 days in the bush with her to go to the nearest health center. She is treated for 5 days. They go back 2 days to reach their village. For 9 days, 54 children do not have a teacher. And it was the teacher's wife ... there is also the malaria crisis of the pupils, the teacher, etc… Would it not have been easier to have Artemisia Annua in the school garden? IDAY-International launches a major fund-raising campaign on April 25th: "Artemisia for Africa" -What is the purpose of our campaign? Make people aware of this simple, inexpensive and effective solution. Thanks to the donations, we will be able to carry out the scientific research which puts on the paper the results obtained on the ground and we will be able to create new school gardens in which Artemisia annua will be planted together with plants with high nutritive value: ü
International scientific research to prove the evidence observed on the ground so that the World Health Organization lifts its reservations. + Kenyatta University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct this research in accordance with WHO requirements. The research will be conducted by Kenyatta University (Kenya) with the support of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Ma, USA), Wageningen University (The Netherlands) + and the University of Liège (Belgium).
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In order to combat the high rate of malaria, leading to a delay in learning and a long-term high school dropout rate, IDAY supports the establishment of School Gardens combining Artemisia annua culture and plants (Fruit and vegetables) with high nutritional value to improve the quantity and quality of school meals. Since the plant is a delicate crop, a student exchange program from IDAY projects where the plant has been established in a sustainable way will be implemented to provide technical assistance to young people committed to creating a school garden in their school.
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org
Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
The project also includes school canteens. Another innovative aspect of the project is to equip canteens with energy saving stoves to reduce wood consumption and CO2 emissions. IDAYInternational has financed this type of stoves in Kenya and reports indicate a 50% decrease in wood consumption (impact on the ecological level but also on the workload of canteen women), halving the cooking time (which increases the production capacity of the canteen). In addition, it is known that the distribution of meals at school increases pupil attendance and thus positively influences the level of education. From a medical point of view, it is expected that a sample of pupils and teachers will be tested against malaria. Similar tests will be performed after consuming Artemisia annua daily. Coupled with the positive results already obtained in other schools, they will feed the advocacy with the local authorities for an extension of the project in the other schools of the country. The tests will be funded and carried out by the local government health services. - Have studies already been conducted that prove that Artemisia annua is effective against malaria? The greatest evidence of the effectiveness of the plant as prevention and as a treatment for malaria is its use by the Chinese for over 2000 years! But as in the West we like to prove things scientifically, studies have started on the subject for several years now (a document containing scientific references can be sent on request). They show that there are no side effects, that there is no resistance, that it is adequate for pregnant women and young children, that the whole plant must be consumed because the different components play a complementary role. Studies also show that the plant adapts to different geo-climatic conditions. -World Health Organization: What does it think of the Artemisia annua? Artemisia annua is the plant from which artemisinin is extracted, which is associated with another product (such as Mefloquine) to produce the official drug (ACT) promoted by the World Health Organization and distributed worldwide. BUT! The first resistances were observed to the latter drug, which means that it becomes less and less effective against malaria. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Artemisia annua! Studies show that Artemisia annua should be used in its entirety. It is in fact the combination of its components that makes it effective against malaria and that there are no observed resistances: there are too many different components for the body to develop resistances. Thus, the plant as a repellent against mosquitoes and as a preventive and curative herb tea or powder, is a solution that IDAY-International regularly brings to the table of the WHO, which for now is awaiting the results of the research to lift its resistance. -Why is Artemisia annua not yet adopted as an official means to eradicate malaria? Well, because in our Western way of thinking, for many doctors, "we do not treat diseases with plants". And in addition, the pharmaceutical companies have not yet shown interest in this plant ... Our strategy: Our goal is to prove the evidence, observed on the ground, through an international scientific study for the World Health Organization to lift its reservations. IDAY + Kenyatta University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct this research in accordance with WHO requirements. 1. The research will be conducted by Kenyatta University (Kenya) with the support of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Ma, USA), Wageningen University (the Netherlands) + and Liege University (Belgium). The study will also show that the plant can be used by pregnant women and young children. 2.
Financing of new school gardens: more young people need to be trained throughout Africa to grow the plant. In 2010, in a pilot program promoted by IDAY-Kenya in the Kisumu region of Kenya, an area severely affected by malaria, Artemisia annua was planted by students from two secondary schools. Preventive treatment with tea has proven to be surprisingly effective. School absenteeism disappeared and health expenditure has fallen by 80%. Student performance has skyrocketed. As a result of this success, many schools in Kenya have adopted the plant and Artemisia annua projects have also been launched by IDAY members in Senegal,
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org
Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Gabon, DRC , Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The results are all in the same direction ... so we must continue! The school garden budget includes irrigation, tools and training (technical support given by agronomists to young people who start a project). In addition, IDAY supports Youth Clubs: young people who have invested in the cultivation of Artemisia annua in their school, keep 10% of the seeds in order to bring them to other schools. In addition to the seeds, they bring their knowledge necessary to the culture. Once the crop is launched, the project no longer requires external investment since it is managed locally. 3.
The results of the scientific studies combined with the results obtained in the field will give confidence to the World Health Organization and the Ministers of Health who may decide to switch to an official use of Artemisia annua in their country. The Artemisia annua is attracting growing interest among governments of the African continent, due in particular to the growing difficulties encountered with official programs, both in terms of resistances to distributed pharmaceutical products and financially.
What will the scientific research focus on? v v v
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The performance of Artemisia annua compared to other interventions introduced in Kenya (mosquito nets, insecticides and medicines) and clear scientific evidence of its effectiveness The possible development of a resistance against Artemisia annua herbal tea with reduced composition relative to the whole plant and a comparative evaluation of the alternatives offered by it Quality control measures and monitoring ensure, with practice, the effectiveness and reproducibility of the effects of the Artemisia annua-based treatment (and its varieties) grown in different agro-ecological zones, both as an in vivo repellent agent and Prophylactic or curative use Possible use of Artemisia annua (Artemisia annua tea, whole leaflet in capsules / tablets) on pregnant women to establish efficacy and biosecurity in this group of malaria-affected individuals
Why is it that people develop resistance to drugs and not to the plant? It is observed that Artemisia annua acts as a true combination therapy. It is indeed the combination of its components that would make it more effective against malaria than drugs and that there is no resistance: there are too many different components for the parasite to develop resistance. -What do local people think? This is the strength of the project: local people see the effects of the plant and take over the project. Some prisons, not generally receiving the means of prevention and care for malaria, also began to cultivate the Artemisia annua. A prisoner often takes seeds with him at the end of his incarceration and starts a culture in his village. - Who else uses the Artemisia annua? The Artemisia annua is also used by private companies, here are two examples: - In Burundi: several companies, including Rentec, cultivate or use the Artemisia annua to protect its employees from malaria. The company has seen its absenteeism rate and healthcare costs drastically decrease -In Uganda, 1000 agricultural cooperatives regularly consume Artemisia annua tea to protect themselves from malaria. -Did the Artemisia annua have other virtues? Yes, it is also very effective in the treatment of intestinal parasites, the third most frequent disease in Africa which is alsoresponsible for school absenteeism. Studies show that deworming students has an impact on academic performance. Scientific studies suggest that the plant is effective against several tropical infectious diseases including tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis, ...
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org
Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
-Is the plant difficult to cultivate? It is not uncommon for the crop to fail in the first year: the plant has not received enough water, people have allowed the plant to flower and thus cannot keep seed for the next year's crop . But our experience on the ground shows us that expertise is acquired quickly. IDAY has set up Youth Clubs: young people who have invested in the Artemisia annua culture in their school, keep 10% of the seeds to bring them to the neighboring schools. In addition to the seeds, they bring their required knowledge to the culture. Agronomists also support young people in existing projects. -Is it adaptable to all climatic conditions and all terrain? The plans of Artemisia annua had to be adapted to the geo-climatic conditions of the different regions of Africa. Experience shows that it grows everywhere with an intake of organic manure and an adequate supply of water. -Does it grow back every year? No, it's an annual plant. It is therefore necessary to keep seed that will be replanted the following year. - Does it need a lot of water? It needs water on a regular basis. Irrigation is therefore part of the budget of the projects we support. -What is the area needed? 1 hectare of Artemisia annua can protect up to 125,000 people. -Posology of the Artemisia annua Preventive: 3 gr of Artemisia annua in the form of herbal tea 1 X / day for 9 consecutive days / month In cure: 3 x 3 gr / day for 9 days in a row (ie 3 tablespoons for 1 liter of water per day) -Why does this campaign reflect the philosophy of IDAY-International? This project reflects IDAY-International's philosophy because it is about strengthening the skills of local people, providing them with the means to care for the fourth deadly disease of the continent, releasing them from international aid in an affordable, replicable and sustainable way, and convincing governments to adopt the plant through various advocacy actions.
-A few figures in relation to malaria: Despite all the efforts deployed today: Ø Malaria still kills 1 child every 2 minutes Ø 269 million people have no access to nets Ø 80 million have no access to ACT Ø 15 million pregnant women have no access to adapted treatment (IPTP) Problem: Ø 2.5 billion spent in 2014: international investments accounted for 78% (US$ 1.9 billion) and governments of malaria endemic countries for 22% ($550 million) Ø WHO estimates US$ 6,4 billion is needed to cover every person at risk but only US$ 2 billion is available -It is about malaria but also ... about sustainable development: Definitely! The "Artemisia for Africa" campaign will also demonstrate to the public and private authorities that we are not fooled: there is a means of preventing and treating malaria, which is inexpensive, enhancing the skills of local populations by placing them as the main actor in the struggle against the scourge that affects them and freeing them from the foreign aid that too often deprives them of responsibility ... to us, citizens of the world, to help them! About IDAY-International Who we are IDAY is an organization launched in 2005 upon request of several associations from African civil society. This international network brings together 572 associations in 19 countries of Africa, all united by a shared goal: quality basic education for all African children and youth.
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org
Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
IDAY’s Principles
What we do PRINCIPLES OF ACTIONS : Collective action - Empowerment of local civil society – Advocacy The secretariat of IDAY- International, based in Belgium, supports sustainable, inexpensive and easily replicable projects initiated by the coalitions of IDAY- Africa and integrated in their local advocacy campaigns.
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org
Raising voices for African education Porte-voix pour l’éducation en Afrique
Once their effectiveness demonstrated, they are proposed to governments in order to be expanded at national scale and duplicated in other regions and/or countries. Our programs
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Your interest in this health issue that has an impact on education and development aid is crucial for us! The Press Conference will take place at Museum BELvue 7, Palace Place 1000 Brussels +32 (0)2 500 45 54 info@belvue.be - www.belvue.be Access and parking: http://www.belvue.be/en/opening-hours-access-contact Thank you for telling us by email if we can count on your presence. I am at your disposal for any question by telephone or by email. Nathalie SCHOTS IDAY-International Rue des Jambes 19 1420 Braine l'Alleud tel : +32 (0)2 385 44 13 GSM : +32 (0) 479329829 mail : nschots@iday.org
IDAY’S HONORARY COMMITTEE Hauwa Ibrahim (Sakharov Prize 2005) Baaba Maal (Ambassador UNDP - Senegal) Luisa Morgantini (VicePresident of the European Parliament 2007/2009) Dr Denis Mukwege (Sakharov Prize 2014, King Baudouin Prize 2011, Director of Panzi Hospital) Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children Center) - Ousmane Sy (King Baudouin Prize 2005 and founder of CEPIA) – Professor Pamela Weathers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IDAY International Day of the African Child and Youth IDAY-International aisbl - Rue des Jambes 19 - 1420 Braine-l’Alleud - Belgium - T. +32 (0)2 385 44 13 - F. +32 (0)2 385 44 12 info@iday.org - IBAN - BE 93 5230 8026 6767 - BIC - TRIOBEBB (TRIODOS) - 0895.443.325 - www.iday.org