The young mother of two is one of the beneficiaries of a mosquito net distribution held in Panguila Commune, which is about 21 km from the centre of Bengo Province in Angola. The distribution point was organised by health staff in coordination with community leaders.
Recently, people in Sonia’s region have grown worried after hearing about fever outbreaks in bordering provinces.
“"It is important to use mosquito
nets because fevers are killing.”
- Sonia
She decided to make the trek to get nets after hearing about the distribution from a neighbour.
Before receiving her nets, she and her daughter had to pass a quick malaria test – fortunately, it was negative for both of them. Despite the result, she says she cannot relax because of the stories she has heard of people who have been dying from strange fevers, including malaria and yellow fever.
"It is important to use mosquito nets because fevers are killing," says Sonia. "In our village, fevers, dirty water and mosquitoes never stop."
A persistent threat
Malaria is still one of the biggest killers in Angola. Nearly half of under-five deaths are caused by the disease.