The Role of Bed Nets Against Insecticide-Resistant Mosquitoes

Superbug vs. Super Kids: A Comic Strip for Malaria Education

Panel 1: The Malaria Menace

 (Scene:  Children play in a cityscape; then a sinister, malevolent-looking mosquito flies over the city, carrying the caption ‘Dr Plasmo, the Superbug’ and a demonic grin. Beep-bop noises.)

 NARRATOR: It’s a battle for a child’s life in our nation’s biggest city! Channel 8 news: Dr Plasmo, the Superbug! Malaria monsters on the march!

Dr. Plasmo: “Ha ha ha! Time to spread some mischief!”

Panel 2: Meet the Super Kids

 (Scene: Inside a colorful superhero headquarters. A diverse group of kids are present, each wearing superhero capes and outfits; they are named ‘Super Kids’.)

Leader Kid: “We’re the Super Kids, and we’re here to stop Dr. Plasmo’s plan!”

 Super Kid 1: ‘To secure the future of our city from malaria, we know what we have to do.’ 

Super Kid 2: “Let’s show everyone how to stay safe and healthy!”

Panel 3: The Bed Net Battle

 (Scene: Bedroom. Family hanging up a multicolor insecticide-treated bed net. Dr Plasmo hanging out of the window, looking helpless.) 

 Super Kid 3: ‘Step 1. Music and bed nets help you sleep! You want to keep the nasty mosquitoes away!’ 

Parent: “Thanks to the Super Kids, we’re ready for a safe night’s sleep!”

Dr. Plasmo: “No fair! They’re blocking my entry!”

Panel 4: The Power of Medicine

 (Scene: Community health clinic. A Super Kid is demonstrating how to use a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and explaining the implications of starting treatment as early as possible.)

 Super Kid 4: If you feel sick and have a fever or chills, do not wait, get tested immediately. Don’t let a malaria parasite grow inside you – early treatment kills the parasite fast! 

 Health Worker: ‘Now let’s administer drugs, detect the Superbug early, and stop it from spreading!’ 

Panel 5: Super Nutrition

 (Fourth set of scene: A kitchen with a table full of fruits and vegetables. Super Kid 5 is showing kids how to eat healthily.)

 Super Kid 5: ‘Eating well helps our immune systems! Fruits and veggies give us strength against disease!’ 

 Keiki: ‘Yum! I’ll eat lots of these to stay healthy so I can beat up Plasmo.’

Panel 6: Community Heroes

 (cut to a flourishing community event where Super Kids and local leaders are teaching about malaria prevention and distributing bed nets and vitamins)

 Super Kid 6: Knowledge is power! Help us spread the word about how to prevent malaria so everyone has the tools to stay safe! 

Community Leader: “Together, we can make our city a malaria-free zone!”

Dr. Plasmo: “Curse those Super Kids! They’re turning everyone into heroes!”

Panel 7: Victory Celebration

 (Scene: The city flying a very large banner that says ‘Malaria-Free City’. The Super Kids stand together in the city. Dr Plasmo, looking dejected, zooms off into the sunset.) 

Leader Kid: “We did it! Thanks to everyone’s efforts, Dr. Plasmo’s plan was foiled!”

 Super Kid 1: ‘Keep educational, pay attention, and do these five steps to protect your vital bubbles, so you can stay strong and healthy.’

 And so this is the message delivered by the show in the closing credits: Narrator: Now armed with information, teamwork, and action: Our Super Kids made the difference! 

Panel 8: Call to Action

 (Below: Super Kids looking happy, relaxed – text at bottom of the panel: But maybe this is too much, so to cool down, look at my ‘wave your arms’ visualization routine…) 

 Super Kids: ‘Let’s Beat Malaria! Use Bed Nets, Test, Eat Good, Tell Friends.’ 

Narrator: “Be a hero in your community. Protect yourself and others from malaria!”