Students in schools in Siaya, Western Kenya were asked to participate in an essay contest about how malaria has affected their lives and families, sponsored by KEMRI and supported by PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Several students from primary and secondary schools submitted essays describing personal experiences with malaria, including symptoms like fevers, fatigue, loss of appetite, and how it impacted them and their families. The best essays were awarded prizes like trophies, textbooks, and stationery, and the top student writers received a trip to visit KEMRI research facilities to learn more about efforts to address malaria.

1. Student Essay
Contest in Siaya,
Western Kenya
Sponsored by Kenya Medical Research
Institute (KEMRI/CDC) and supported
by the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

2. Students in Siaya, Western Kenya, were
encouraged to participate in an essay
contest. They were asked the question:
How has malaria affected your
life and that of your family?

3. Students from
primary and
secondary schools
submitted essays.
© KEMRI
Siaya District Hospital
was one of 11 sites
in seven African
countries that
participated in the
RTS,S malaria vaccine
clinical trial.

4. A total of 15 schools participated:
11 primary and 4 secondary.
© PATH/Wendy Stone

5. Prizes were
awarded for
the best
essays.
© PATH/Wendy Stone

6. Christine Atieno
“On my way to school, I felt very dizzy and fatigued. I tried to quicken my pace…
“I told my teacher that I couldn’t do the remaining exams. I went to sleep under a
tree. Immediately, my mother came and took me to the hospital. I carried my heart
in my hands. When we reached the hospital, I thought that I would be admitted, but
the Almighty was with me.”

7. Sharone Makana
“I had been affected by malaria one night when I was in primary school. I could
not control myself as I was shivering and lost appetite for food. I was in a bad
condition and was taken to a nearby hospital where I was given medicines that
led to my recovery.
“The condition affected me academically… It led to my failure at school as my
colleagues sat for their pre-mock exams.”

8. Samuel Odhiambo Guwa“Many years ago, my family had been
affected by this disease. It was difficult
for us to have our daily meals because
our parents were not able to go to work
as usual. Sometimes I would be absent
from school due to strong fever and
headaches which I felt.
“Sometimes I lost my appetite. It forced
my aunt who lived near our home to help
us do some of the house work. The
hospital was far away from our home and
we were only able to buy pain killers to
slow down the strong fever and
headaches we felt.”

9. Horpkins Omondi Okoth
“The laboratory assistant read the piece of
paper from the doctor. After the test, the
doctor discovered what I was suffering from.
“I was found to have a lot of malaria parasites
in my blood. Soon I was given a prescription
which I took to the pharmacy where I collected
some tablets.”

10. Jeff Ochieng Wanina
“Personally, I was once affected with the disease.
I grew feeble and thin almost to the point of
emaciation. My state could not let me report to
school. I missed a lot of classes which were
taught in my absence…
“I recall in the year 2010 during the December
holidays I happened to visit a sister of mine who
resides in Nairobi. She was in her first trimester
of pregnancy and was also affected with malaria.
I tried to persuade her to go to the hospital
before her condition worsened, but to no avail.
My pleas fell on deaf ears… “

11. Newton Omollo
“I suffered a severe malaria attack during a class tour
for best performing students in my school. I was thrilled
because it was the first time in my life to go to Kisumu
and Nairobi in 2012. I suddenly felt ill, as I felt drowsy,
exhausted, and every muscle in my body ached.
“We travelled to Nairobi overnight to tour the national
museums. On arrival to Nairobi, my condition worsened
and my class teacher called my guardian Uncle Alex to
take me to the hospital. I was rushed to Kenyatta
National Hospital as stiff as a board…
“I stayed in hospital for three days. The bill in the
private hospital (was) twelve thousand shillings. My
poor mother had to work hard digging and doing small
businesses to refund my uncle for the hospital bills.”

12. © PATH
The best student writers received trophies, textbooks,
stationery, and a trip to KEMRI research facilities in Kisian.

13. Return to home:
www.malariavaccine.org