World Malaria Day – Will You Act?
This year’s theme – Achieving Progress and Impact – is aimed at attaining zero malaria death by 2015. However, international health organizations, governments and communities cannot make this goal a reality without the support of every individual. Now, will you do your part?
Every year, there are about 800,000 lives lost to malaria, millions share habitats with vectors, and half of the world is at risk. In 2009 along, 780,000 diePostsd of malaria, most of whom were children under five years of age. Even if you live far from countries seriously infected with malaria, you can never be sure of absolute safety. But there is something you can do to help eradicate this deadly disease.
Healthcare workers volunteer their knowledge, skills, time and a part of their lives to deal with the hardest challenges brought by malaria. They willingly wear their uniforms scrubs and step in the malaria endemic countries to help children with severe malaria. Other medical experts put on their lab coats and dedicate their profession in finding more effective treatments that will completely bring down even artemisinin resistant malaria parasites. They also spend most of their time in the labs to create better and safer malaria treatments for pregnant women.
Malaria, which is caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasite, does not only kill people, but also trample them deep in extreme poverty. Africa, for instance, spends around 12 billion U.S. dollars annually on malaria-related illnesses as well as mortality. The large sum of money could have been used to alleviate African economic problems. Your small and simple ways may help save lives and stop growling stomachs. Monetary and kind donations, support to international and local anti-malarial efforts, and even spreading of valuable information about malaria prevention and treatment will have valuable impact.
