Tanzanian Homes Show Dramatic Reduction in Childhood Disease Risk
Salum Mshamu, a former nurse and now doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has been working on an innovative project to reduce the spread of deadly diseases in Tanzania. Alongside architect Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen and Lorenz von Seidlein, a professor at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok, Thailand, Mshamu is behind Star Homes.
The project involves building homes with features that reduce the risk of malaria, diarrheal infections, and respiratory infections. In these houses, which have been built across more than 50 villages in Tanzania, there are air-permeable mesh screens to lower internal temperatures and prevent mosquito breeding. Sleeping areas are also raised high enough to deter mosquitoes.
The homes also come equipped with their own water filtration systems, latrines, and solar-powered lights. A ventilated kitchen space with a lockable storage area helps keep pests out of food.
A randomized controlled trial published in April 2026 showed that children living in these Star Homes saw a significant drop in disease risk. Compared to those living in traditional homes, there was a 44% decrease in malaria risk and 30% fewer diarrheal infections. Additionally, there were 18% fewer acute respiratory infections.
Mshamu hopes that the success of this project will inspire others to draw on its design principles. He wants to see policymakers take notice and explore ways to scale up the project, such as through mortgage programs that would help people in villages build these innovative homes.