Voices from the Frontlines: Rosie Nzenze

Having had to flee her home in the Central African Republic (CAR) due to war, Rosie Nzenze has spent the past six years living in the Inke refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rosie gave birth to two children at the camp health center and is currently expecting her third child.

“Whenever my children have fever or cough, I bring them to the health center straight away. Since getting pregnant again, I was tested for malaria, and then given medicine to protect myself and my child from malaria.

I also received a mosquito net and was told to put it in my house, which I did the next day. I can now spend my night sleeping under the net, protected against mosquito bites. This has allowed me to be in good health.”

Rosie is one of 4,435 expectant mothers who received mosquito nets and preventative malaria treatment, known as IPTp, from a Nothing But Nets-funded distribution campaign in 2019.

IPTp for pregnant women is essential. It reduces a pregnant woman’s risk for malaria and decreases the likelihood of maternal and fetal anemia, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality. According to the WHO’s 2019 World Malaria Report, less than 50 percent of pregnant women in the DRC received IPTp in 2018.

After having to flee conflict, violence, or unrest, refugees shouldn’t have to fear the bite of a mosquito. When you donate to Nothing But Nets, you help pregnant women like Rosie access the tools they need to prevent and treat malaria. Click here to support refugees in honor of World Refugee Day.