Inspiring and informing communities about the prevention of malaria is more effective and fun as a hands-on activity. Malaria-related DIY crafts are a creative way to not only learn how to prevent malaria but also to interact with the material and make anti-malaria methods stick. Here is a guide to crafty mosquito-related DIYs for awareness and carrying out better prevention practices.
1. Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Objective: Educate on the use of natural repellents and personal protection.
Materials Needed:
- Essential oils (e.g., citronella, eucalyptus)
- Elastic bands or string
- Beads (optional, for decoration)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut the Elastic: Find a piece of elastic string or something that fits tight around your wrist and cut it to length.
- Add Essential Oils: Put a dozen drops of essential oil under the elastic. Citronella and eucalyptus both have mosquito-repelling powers.
- Beads (optional): Add some jeweled beads. Optional is the key word! Decorating your bracelet with beads personalizes it, but it’s up to you. If you’re anything like me, you’re burdened by stacks of unfinished projects.
- Elastic, All Tied: When decorated, the ends of the elastic are tied to complete the bracelet.
- Educational component: Explain the role of essential oils in repelling mosquitoes. Stress the importance of using repellents as an augmentation of other protective measures such as bed nets
2. Mosquito Life Cycle Mobile
Objective: Teach about the mosquito life cycle and the stages where prevention is crucial.
Materials Needed:
- Colored paper (blue, green, yellow, and black)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- String
- A hanger or a stick
Instructions:
- Craft Mosquito Stages: Cut out shapes for the various mosquito stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult mosquito. Color the egg blue, larva green, pupa yellow, and adult black.
- Hang Mobile: Measure a length of string to hang each stage and tie it to the hanger or the stick.
- Display: Hang the mobile in a visible area.
- Education Component: The morbidity/mortality cycle of the mosquito is split into three separate stages (egg, larva, pupa) and demonstrates where the epidemiological cycle can be interrupted when standing water is eliminated by communities or insecticide-treated nets are used.
3. DIY Bed Net Simulation
Objective: Demonstrate how bed nets protect against malaria.
Materials Needed:
- Blue mesh fabric or old mosquito nets
- Scissors
- Tape or glue
- Cardboard or wooden frame (for the structure)
Instructions:
- Make the Net: Cut the mesh fabric to wrap over a wooden or cardboard rectangular frame to create a bed.
- Set up the Frame: Slip the frame over the mesh to provide you with a tent-like structure.
- Tighten the Edges: Lastly, wrap the edge of this piece of fabric around the frame and tape or glue it on the other side.
- Educational component: How a net prevents mosquitoes from biting. Ensure users understand that mosquitoes are prevented from reaching people when they have access to a bednet. It is crucial to adopt the culture of using bednets while sleeping. In places with high malaria transmission, it is essential to utilize a bednet. A bed net prevents mosquitoes from biting people.
4. Malaria Awareness Posters
Objective: Spread information about malaria prevention and symptoms.
Materials Needed:
- Poster boards or large paper
- Markers, crayons, or paint
- Images and illustrations (optional)
Instructions:
- Design the Poster: Produce a poster that provides information on malaria (symptoms, how you can prevent it – using bed nets, repellent -( or should I say wear it), and why it’s important to seek treatment.
- Add Visuals: Include drawings or images of mosquitoes, bed nets, and healthy practices.
- Display the Poster: Place the posters in community centers, schools, and clinics.
- Educational use: The Posters can be used in schools or in community meetings for the discussion on malaria prevention and treatment. They are a constant reminder of health practices.
5. Mosquito Habitat Diorama
Objective: Illustrate mosquito breeding sites and the importance of eliminating standing water.
Materials Needed:
- Shoebox or small box
- Blue and green paper
- Small plastic or paper cups
- Glue and scissors
- Toy insects or drawn pictures
Instructions:
- Stage the Diorama: dress up the shoebox interior to look like a typical breeding location for mosquitoes (areas of standing water).
- Add Breeding Sites: With cups or bowls inside, the box effectively replicates water bodies in which mosquitoes breed.
- Add Mosquitoes: Include toy insects or drawn pictures of mosquitoes in the diorama.
- Educational Component: Standing water is the typical place for mosquitoes to reproduce. Teach how to eliminate these sources of water as a way to stop malaria. Demonstrate the quick impact that this and other small measures can have in reducing mosquito populations.
6. Interactive Malaria Quiz Game
Objective: Reinforce malaria knowledge through a fun, interactive quiz.
Materials Needed:
- Index cards or paper
- Markers
- A small container (for drawing cards)
Instructions:
- Make QA cards: Write malaria QA cards (related to the disease) on a single sheet of paper/card (an index card is a good size or a postcard). These would include Q for symptoms, Q for methods of prevention, Q for mosquitoes, etc.
- Make the Game: Put cards in the box. Players draw cards and answer the questions.
- Incentives: Offer small rewards or certificates for correct answers to encourage participation.
- Education Component: The participants’ knowledge about malaria prevention and treatment is checked and reinforced through this quiz game.
7. Handmade Insecticide Treated Net
Objective: Illustrate how insecticide-treated nets work to prevent malaria.
Materials Needed:
- Blue fabric or mesh
- Fabric paint or markers
- Scissors
- Thread and needle or fabric glue
Instructions:
- Create the Net: Cut the fabric or mesh to create a small, rectangular “net.”
- Add: Use fabric paint or markers to add details for populations per cell, simulating the ways that insecticide is added to the net.
- Assemble: Sew or glue the edges to make it resemble a real net.
- Educational component: Insecticide-treated nets kill or repel mosquitoes. This is how and why it is important to use treated nets
Mosquito-themed DIYs help sustain the malaria message by encouraging community members to actively try to conduct prevention. Creativity helps them go from simply learning about malaria to leading the malaria prevention charge overall. When individuals who are interested and invested craft their own DIYs using malaria themes, they are likely to remember the message for a long time. Creativity empowering individuals and communities to actively practice malaria prevention can have a significant impact.
