R 211409Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5725
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS GABORONE 000323 
 
 
DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV 
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ECON EAID AO BC
SUBJECT: Clinton Foundation and Malaria No More Donate Nets to the 
Okavango District 
 
REF: Gaborone 320 
 
¶1. This message is a revision of reftel. 
 
¶2. Summary: The village of Gumare in the Okavango District in North 
West, Botswana was buzzing with excitement on February 14, 2009, 
when most people in the village converged at the Kgotla to launch 
and celebrate the generous donation of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets 
(LLIN) donated by Malaria No More and the Clinton Foundation.  The 
nets were handed over to the community on behalf of Malaria No More 
and the Clinton Foundation by Regional Environment and Health 
Officer (REHO) Anthony Woods, who left a lasting impression on the 
villagers of Gumare when he gave part of his speech in the local 
language of Setswana.  End Summary. 
 
REHO Officiates at the Handover Ceremony 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. The village of Gumare in the Okavango District was buzzing with 
excitement on February 14, 2009 when most people in the village 
converged at the Kgotla (the village central meeting place) to 
launch and celebrate the generous donation of Long Lasting 
Insecticide Nets (LLIN) donated by Malaria No More and the Clinton 
Foundation.  The event was officiated by the Regional Environment 
and Health Officer (REHO) Anthony Woods, who left a lasting 
impression on the villagers of Gumare when he gave part of his 
speech in local language of Setswana.  Attendees included Kgosi 
(Chief) Seidisa, Councilor Nkwane, Senior Assistant Council 
Secretary Mr. Elijah Mouti, Unicef Program Officer Ms Mercy Puso, 
and Principal Medical Officer Dr. Bob Wafuana.  The theme of the 
ceremony was "Interceptor Bed Nets- Powerful Double protection: Use 
It."  In his remarks, the REHO informed the village that the 
Government of Botswana and the Clinton Foundation have embarked on 
an ambitious and critical public health project.  Ambitious, because 
it aims to improve the ownership and usage of treated LLINs in the 
Okavango District, and to increase the coverage from the current low 
levels to a high percentage in order to cover the entire population 
of Gumare; and not only women and children, but the elderly too. 
 
Malaria No More 
--------------- 
 
¶4. REHO informed the gathering that Malaria No More is a non-profit 
making nongovernmental organization based in the United States.  It 
was established in December 2006 by two respected business leaders 
of News Corporation President and Chief Operations Officer Peter 
Chernin and Wall Street pioneer Ray Chambers who had a simple and 
startling insight: ending malaria's deaths grip on Africa, and that 
this would be the best humanitarian investment they can make in the 
world.  Chernin and Chambers believe that these nests (LLIN) are one 
of the most effective tools available to prevent malaria deaths. 
They reportedly said that "based on the experience of our 
organization and other international organizations and ministries of 
health in numerous other countries, we strongly believe that the 
quickest and most effective way to achieve high nets coverage is via 
a massive door-to-door distribution of free nets.  We, therefore, 
wish to provide assistance to your malaria programs planned project 
in the Okavango sub district.  Malaria No More is pleased to offer 
the Republic of Botswana a donation of 32,000 interceptor brand 
rectangular nets (LLIN) and to pay for the shipment of these nets to 
the Okavango District." 
 
Clinton Foundation's Role 
------------------------- 
 
¶5. The Clinton Foundation team provided training in the village 
going house to house educating people on malaria through the use of 
peer educators.  They plan to monitor the distribution of the nets 
in the village, which will be provided free of charge.  Family 
members will be assisted in hanging the nets and provided with 
education on signs and symptoms of malaria.  The Ditlamorago Drama 
Group provided entertainment, which left members of the public 
waiting in happy anticipation for the nets that are going to be 
provided to them in their homes. 
 
Role of the Community 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. While in Gumare, the REHO met with students and headmaster of the 
Okavango Community Junior Secondary school, which has formed an IT 
club that will be working in the village to educate the community on 
malaria.  The students informed the REHO team that their intention 
is to ensure that no person dies from a preventable disease like 
malaria in their district.   In December, 2008, the Embassy's Public 
Affairs Office donated computers, which the students will use to 
access the internet, especially for research on malaria in order to 
share the information with their community and district as a whole. 
 
 
Nolan