Angela Rose is a 14-year-old Student Council President and health club Chairperson at St. Anne’s Ahero Junior Secondary School, leading malaria awareness efforts.
Living in a malaria-prone area near River Nyando, Angela has seen how the disease impacts families, including her own. Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasite and spread through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a constant threat, particularly during rainy seasons when stagnant water creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Symptoms such as high fever, chills, headaches, and fatigue can escalate quickly if not treated, posing serious risks, especially for young children.
In response to this challenge, Angela’s school established a health club to empower students with knowledge and practical solutions. As Chairperson, she leads initiatives that promote malaria prevention both within the school and across the wider community. These efforts include educating families on simple but effective measures such as draining stagnant water, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, closing doors and windows at dusk, using repellents, and seeking early medical care when symptoms appear.
The club works closely with teachers and healthcare professionals, regularly hosting sessions that make health education practical and relatable. One of their most impactful initiatives is the creation of talking walls, informational boards that clearly explain malaria’s causes, symptoms, transmission, and prevention. These serve as daily reminders that awareness is the first line of defence.
Angela’s commitment is deeply personal. Having experienced malaria herself, she understands the toll it takes. A recent illness left her bedridden for days, unable to attend school or carry out daily activities. For many students, such interruptions lead to missed lessons and declining academic performance. In more severe cases, malaria continues to claim lives, making prevention not just important, but urgent. Her experience also highlighted the importance of timely intervention. After reporting her symptoms, her teacher quickly informed her parents, who ensured she received medical care.
Angela recognises that not every child has access to such support, which is why she believes school-based health clubs play a critical role. They equip students to act as health ambassadors, bridging the gap between knowledge and action in their communities.
Through her leadership, Angela is helping to shift mindsets. Students who learn about malaria prevention share that knowledge at home, influencing family practices and reducing risk. Small actions, like clearing stagnant water or consistently using mosquito nets, begin to create lasting change.
Angela continues to encourage her peers to join the health club, emphasising that preventing diseases starts with simple, consistent habits. Her message is clear: young people are not just beneficiaries of health interventions, they are active drivers of change.
In Ahero, the fight against malaria is ongoing. But with young leaders like Angela Rose at the forefront, there is growing hope that awareness, education, and community action can turn the tide.
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