Malaria and Mosquito Nets
Malaria derives from the Italian term mala aria meaning 'bad air'. The illness is caused by parasites that can be passed on to humans by female mosquitos. The spread of malaria correlates with the temperature of our planet. Although these mosquitos are found in almost all parts of the world, it is in warm and damp climates that they spread disease most freely. The main territories where malaria is found are Africa , Amazonian regions and Southeast Asia.
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Malaria's symptoms include high and continuing fever, ague and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to a quick death, especially for children as they are generally more susceptible to the disease. It is also common for children to receive a misdiagnosis as the symptoms are similar to many other diseases. According to the WHO, almost 1 Million people die of malaria every year. The estimated number of new infections each year lies between 300-500 Million and of those 90% can be found on the African continent. |
In Africa a child dies every 45 seconds of Malaria, the disease accounts for 20% of all childhood deaths. - Image courtesy of Paul Jones |
Malaria in Zambia
Unfortunately malaria is a common and wide-spread disease in Zambia. Malaria is treatable but requires expensive medication. In the last few years the number of deaths related to the illness has decreased, thanks to a massive government campaign and the distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Nonetheless, malaria still is responsible for more child deaths in Zambia than any other illness. It infects around 4 Million Zambians each year and causes 8.000 deaths annually. Even though the fight against malaria has made tremendous progress, children under 5 and pregnant women remain vulnerable. 50% of all deaths are children under 5 and a further 20% are maternal deaths.
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Mosquitoes and Malaria
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The poor living conditions experienced by many Zambian families alongside a lack of education on Malaria is an ongoing concern. Parents often seek help in the alternative, indigenous treatments of their local healers or sometimes fail to identify the illness altogether. Even in the rural areas where free medical care is provided, people are confronted with further obstacles. Often people cannot afford to pay for transport to the hospitals meaning they cannot access the care provided. |
The complete prevention of malaria is not without difficulties, as it needs a mosquito-free environment. Although they are perhaps the most simple and cost effective method of malaria prevention, ITNs are not affordable for the average Zambian household. Regular treatment of rooms with insecticides is completely out of reach for all but the very richest Zambians. The largest scale measures involve controlling the swamplands - prime mosquito breeding ground - to help reduce mosquito numbers. However, these projects are often so incredibly expensive and risk too much harm to the local eco-system that they are very rarely feasible.
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If the preventions fail, immediate treatment of the patient is necessary. For this to happen symptoms have to be identified quickly and correctly. Unfortunately in rural Zambia where well trained doctors are few and far between this is not always possible, as we have seen in Kazembe. Kazembe lies in Northern Zambia on the border to DR Congo where the expansive swamplands provide a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and is where the Raise a Smile supported Kazembe Orphanage is located. Investment in insecticide treated mosquito nets is one of the ways in which your donations help to support the orphanage. Such a simple but effective solution to such a dangerous disease! |
New mosquito nets at the Kazembe Orphanage |