World Malaria Day - April 25

Today is World Malaria Day designed to bring awareness to the malaria-endemic in our world. I currently live in a country within the risk area for malaria, so this issue is important to me as I work in the area of development.

In January, my team in Niger visited a village called Teppe, where we have begun a Community Health Evangelism program, with a team of visitors from Beulah Alliance in Edmonton. Along with the training done in basic health, our team provided treated mosquito nets in the village - complete with a skit on proper use of the netting. Here is what they called the Mosquito Net Dance to teach the villagers to not allow goats or chickens (or any other animal) in the netting. (photo curtosy of Ace & Cecilia Cheung: http://cheung.sunergo.net/qry/mm_page.taf?id=14)

In my course on humanitarian aid last year, I learned that malaria is transmitted through night-time mosquito bites, and I also learned the following information regarding the treated mosquito nets:

The bug releases the malaria parasite with the toxin at the end of its meal when it seals the wound from bleeding

If using a regular mosquito net, the mosquito can still feed through the netting if your body is up against the “wall”

When using a treated net, the primetherin irritates the mosquito, so if it does begin feeding, it will leave before finishing feeding and will not release the sealant which contains the malaria parasite. It also will kill the mosquito, so helps control/eradicate the population

The risk of malaria increases for those considered 'displaced people groups'. Due to famine, drought, wars, conflicts; many people in Africa and around the world are surviving in acute crisis situations and in refugee camps. According to the World Health Organization:

Population movements and displacement, increased vulnerability due to malnutrition and concurrent infections, poor or absent housing, environmental deterioration resulting in increased vector breeding, and poor knowledge among intervening health agencies all contribute to the increased malaria burden. As a result, people become more vulnerable to malaria attacks, severe malaria and death from malaria.

Malaria is one of the top 5 killers in Niger, especially for those under five; untreated malaria can also lead to severe mental retardation as a result of cerebral malaria.

Malaria Treatment:
As mosquitos have always loved feeding on me, and as I have received many night-time mosquito bites, I am grateful that I am able to afford the anti-malarial medication which is designed to kill the malaria parasite if I am infected.

Many of those around are unable to afford this medication.

Our team is also able to provide medication in the villages that host medical clinics, thanks to funds raised by the Alliance Women's Project in 2006. The cost of medication to treat malaria is minimal:

If you would like to partner with my team in development aid, targeting the elimination of poverty in Niger (which includes malaria prevention and treatment), funds can be donated through an Alliance Church or the National Ministry Center - designated: Impacting Niger.

If you would like to help with mosquito netting in impoverished countries of the world, Samaritan's Purse runs a mosquito netting program alongside a malaria prevention training program.

Further information on malaria and other mosquito-born diseases, can be found on my colleague's blog site (thanks Chantelle for the inspiration to blog this today!)