NAIROBI, Kenya –To celebrate reaching the halfway point on their overland journey from Amsterdam to Cape Town, Team Tana Netting Against Malaria today visited a malaria control project in Western Kenya’s Shibinga Region.  The project, run by Pioneer Group Bulechia, is supported by Malaria No More Netherlands and seeks to bring the Kenyan government’s free net distribution program to individual villages, many of which are a half day’s walk away from the nearest clinic.  Team Tana Netting Against Malaria provided 100 DawaPlus® 2.0 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to support the project’s efforts.

Team Tana Netting and other members of the Oranje Trophy rally undertook the more than 400 kilometer long journey from Nairobi to the regional capital of Kakamega over two days.  Along the way, the caravan stopped several times to learn more about the malaria problem in various regions of Kenya, discuss preventative measures available and hand out DawaPlus® 2.0 nets to onlookers.

Once in Kakamega, the group were met by the Pioneer Group Bulechia, who guided them the last 15 kilometers along unsealed roads to the project site.  There, more than 200 project beneficiaries, Ministry of Health officials, Village Elders and the District Chief, who organized a warm welcoming ceremony to greet the group.

The Pioneer Group Bulechia seeks to complement the efforts of the Kenyan Ministry of Health.  Because the villages in Shibinga Region are often a day’s walk from the nearest public health center, the Pioneer Group Bulechia felt it was necessary to bring the nets closer to beneficiaries.  Working in cooperation with Malaria No More, the Ministry of Health and district officials, the Group launched a local net distribution to all households, which was officially kicked off today.


During the ceremony, Laura Bos, one of the drivers of the Team Tana Netting Against Malaria vehicle, offered a demonstration on how to use and care for bednets, stressing the importance of patching small holes as they happen.

“Visiting this project was a truly amazing experience for us,” said Laura.  “Getting here was an eight hour detour for our group, but it was totally worth it to see these mosquito nets being distributed and getting to share how to use them with the people who need them most.

Tana Netting, the sponsor of Team Tana Netting Against Malaria provided 100 DawaPlus® 2.0 long-lasting insecticide treated nets to the project, on behalf of Malaria No More Netherlands.

“Tana Netting is pleased to continue our ongoing partnership with Malaria No More Netherlands by supporting this project in Western Kenya,” said Chris Messer, Global Marketing & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Tana Netting..  “We are pleased with the good work Malaria No More has done in terms of advocacy, fundraising and project support and look forward to working with them in the future.”

Following Team Tana Netting Against Malaria’s visit to Kakamega, the group rejoined the other 21 cars in Kericho, Kenya, to prepare for the long drive into Tanzania.

For more information about Tana Netting, visit www.tananetting.com

For more information about the Oranje Trophy, visit http://www.oranjetrophy.nl

For more information about Malaria No More! Netherlands, visit: www.malarianomore.nl.