EAST LANSING, Mich. — A documentary made by two Michigan State University faculty that shares MSU's work and progress in Malawi to help children with malaria will premiere Dec. 27.
The documentary, “Malaria and Malawi: Fighting to Save the Children,” will air at 9 p.m. on WKAR-TV.
MSU School of Journalism faculty members Sue Carter and Bob Gould produced the documentary. Journalism senior Marty Berman helped create trailers as part of the project.
The documentary highlights the work being done by MSU faculty member Terrie Taylor over the past 24 years in Malawi, including a $9.1 million federal grant to create new prevention and control strategies in the small African nation.
"Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and one-fourth of children die before age 5 from malaria there," Carter said. "Yet, Dr. Taylor has been making huge strides to help people in Malawi and all over the world who deal with malaria. This documentary shows the significant progress being made by Dr. Taylor, her staff and MSU students."
Carter narrated the documentary, and Gould shot and edited it. The faculty members spent their spring break in Malawi gathering footage of Taylor conducting research, teaching MSU students and helping families in Malawi. Since then, Carter and Gould have been editing and creating the documentary, while also teaching and pursuing research themselves.
Carter, an ordained minister, said the documentary also explores the importance of faith in healing. She said spending time with a fellow priest in Malawi and his family is another theme of the project.
The project was supported by the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the MSU School of Journalism and Carter.
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