Malaria! Know it, bite it, beat it. Welcome to ‘The Buzz About Malaria’, a new animated guide featuring Thierry, a buzzing mosquito with a big personality, and Nzola, a friendly human. By playing with this bright and lively educational tool, kids will discover some of the basic facts about malaria in a fun and engaging way. The game begins outside a busy village, where overheated children are snacking and playing in the shade of palm trees. Sadly, everyone seems to be tired and slow. Could there be something around that is affecting the inhabitants of the village? What is causing this affliction, and do people in your village look like this too? It might be the mosquitoes Let’s use our curious kids’ brains to find out more!
1. What is Malaria?
[Animation Scene: A sunny, green forest with a friendly mosquito flying around.]
Narrator: Hello. I’m Buzz the Mosquito. I’m here with a message about malaria. But don’t be scared. I’m just a friendly mosquito. And I’m here to help you stay well.
[Scene Change: The malaria parasite is once again depicted, now as a simple cartoon drawing for a child’s understanding.]
Narrator: Malaria is an illness caused by very small germs, called parasites. These germs can make people feel very ill. They live in bugs called mosquitoes, which are tiny flies that bite humans.
2. How Does Malaria Spread?
Mosquito Spore sequencewarp: There is a spore in the wind that lands on the arm of a character and a comet-tail of dots follows it when it takes off.
Narrator: ‘When a mosquito drinks from a child who is unwell with malaria, the mosquito can pick up the parasite. The next time that mosquito bites, it can pass the parasite on to another person. That’s how people become linked in the chain of malaria.’
[Scene Change: Simple animated animation of a mosquito landing on an arm with a ‘bite’ sound.]
Narrator: “But don’t worry! There are ways to protect yourself from getting bitten.”
3. The Superhero of Protection: The Bed Net!
ANIMATION SCENE: A superhero with a net-dyed cape flying around helping kids sleep safely under a bed net.
Announcer: And here’s your hero, the Bed Net — that special net you can put over your bed to stop mosquitoes getting to you when you sleep.
[Scene Transition: Bed Nets: The Good Stuff: Children sleeping soundly under a bed net, against a tear-streaked mosquito standing outside the net]
Narrator: ‘It is safest during the night time because that is when the mosquitoes are flying. So the only time that you would need that bed net is during the night time when the mosquitoes are flying around and ready to bite on you.’
4. Other Cool Ways to Stay Safe
[See animated scene below:] [Animation Scene: A multifaceted environment awash in color. Various ways in which acting and non-acting opportunities help children and families prevent the spread of malaria. Animated by Sirona Knight.]
There’s also another way to repel those insects. You could try these tips! Narrator: There is also other ways to keep the mosquitos away. You could use these cool tips!
[Sub-Scene: A family removing standing water from around their house.]
Narrator: ‘1. Kill Standing Water, Because that’s where mosquitoes like to lay their eggs. All you have to do is get rid of garbage …’
[Sub-Scene: An adult spraying the inside of a house with a harmless bug spray.]
Narrator: 2: Inside Sprays: Sometimes the use of special sprays inside houses can help kill mosquitoes. It can make your home a safer place.
[Sub-Scene: A doctor giving a child a small pill.]
Narrator: 3. Medicine/Medico: In many places, doctors give special medicine to people to keep malaria away. The medicine is like a magic potion to cover your skin and keep you safe!
5. If You Feel Sick
[Animation Scene: A child looking tired and then visiting a friendly cartoon doctor.]
Narrator: ‘If you feel sick like you have a high temperature, and you feel very tired, tell a grown-up right away. They will show you to a doctor, and the doctor will help you feel much better. The sooner the better!’
[Scene Transition: The child getting better and playing with friends again.]
Narrator: With a bit of treatment, you’ll be right as rain before you know it!
6. What Can You Do?
[Animation Scene: Kids working together to hang a bed net and clean their surroundings.]
Narrator: “You can be a malaria-fighting hero by helping with these simple steps!”
[Sub-Scene: A child reminding family members to sleep under a bed net and clean up the yard.]
1. Sleep Under a Bed Net: ‘Always sleep under a net. Don’t let the mosquitoes bite.’ Narrator.
[End Sub-Scene: Kids play. Then they look in their houses for standing water.]
NARRATIVE VOICE: MAINTAIN YOUR HOME. ALLOW YOUR FAMILY TO ELIMINATE THE STANDING WATER AROUND YOUR HOME.
[Sub-Scene: A kid reminding others to visit a health clinic if they feel sick.]
Narrator: 3. Go to the doctor: If you feel ill, tell an adult and visit the physician.
7. You’re a Malaria-Fighting Champion!
[animated scene: caped kids standing with their chests out at attention, two taller people, and a banner that says “Malaria Fighters!”]
Narrator: ‘Now you’re a malaria fighter! Now you know that with bed nets and keeping your environment clean and seeing a doctor when you have symptoms, you keep malaria away.’
[Scene Transition: Buzz the Mosquito waving goodbye and flying off.]
Buzz: ‘Thanks for learning with me today! Be safe, keep buzzing about prevention, and have fun with your friends!’
Malaria, of course, is no laughing matter. But as long as we know what to do, we can be as proud of our bravery as any knight. Travel with DDT all night and tuck in your bed nets tight. Don’t let malaria get its fangs into anyone you love. If mosquitoes do manage to sting your child, seek urgent help from a trained person with a bug-busting injection. Now you can be heroes, all of you. Knowledge has its creatures, and power lies in every bite. We thank you for joining us on this adventure and urge you to stay safe and keep buzzing.
