350 mosquito nets were distributed in Nakuru, Kenya last week, thanks to a generous grant of 5,000 euros from the international pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. The grant, awarded to Society for Women and HIV/AIDS in Kenya (SWAK) and co-ordinated by ROTH co-founder Frederique Vallieres, was proposed by pharmacologist Loreley Calvet and medical manager Brigitte Demers, as part of a Sanofi-Aventis programme funding employee projects.

As the project co-ordinators, Loreley and Brigitte were responsible for submitting a proposal with a plan and objectives; out of 150 applications, it was one of thirty successful applications for this year’s round of grants.

“The women of SWAK were so warm, and you can tell that they are very much invested in their work, in their community,” explained Loreley. “Even though the women themselves live in poor conditions. I had a great time.” Next year, Loreley’s plans for a project proposal are even more ambitious. “There lacks a laboratory in Nakuru to analyze and treat people within the community,” she said. “So I hope that next year we can apply to fund a laboratory.”