World Malaria Day, April 25th: Will You Donate a $10 Mosquito Net to Save a Child from Malaria ?

The 2^nd annual World Malaria Day occurs on April 25^th. This day of malaria awareness was created by the Roll Back Malaria partnership. This group has the goal to "ensure universal access to malaria medication and treated mosquito nets in Africa by the end of 2010 and also to attain near zero malaria-related deaths by 2015." according to CNN.

The MMV states that malaria is "usually transmitted when a person is bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria symptoms include fever, headache, anemia, jaundice, chills, muscle pain and exhaustion."

CNN reports that the World Health Organization states that "every 30 seconds a child in sub-Saharan Africa dies from malaria." In 2006, the WHO says there were 247 million cases of malaria in the world and 880,000 people died of the disease."

Malaria is a treatable and curable disease; however, too many people who contact malaria die of the disease because they cannot afford the drugs needed for treatment.

There are many new preventive measures and treatments under development for malaria. The Bill and Melinda Gates' Foundation has paid for many research projects to help prevent, treat and cure malaria.

For information about how to purchase and donate mosquito nets to prevent malaria in high risk areas and how to hold fund raisers to make ongoing donations go to: http://www.nothingbutnets.net/

Additional ways to help prevent malaria are mentioned in an article by Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly. He encourages readers to donate funds to purchase mosquito nets at http://UNFoundation.org/malaria. You may also call 202-887-9040. To read the article go to:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/rick_reilly/04/25/reilly0501/index.html.

Another way to help fight malaria is to donate mosquito nets through https://give.malarianomore.org. A ten dollar donation will pay for a net and may save a life. You may send a check to Malaria No More, 432 Park Avenue South, 13rh Floor, NY, NY 10016

Malaria is a disease that may be eradicated during our lifetimes. However, for now, millions of children are at high risk for malaria infection. In some parts of the world, the drug to treat malaria costs more than an adult earns in a week.

Mosquito nets save lives. Children may go on to have a long life if they use a mosquito net and avoid contacting malaria while young. So think about donating a mosquito net. Ten dollars is an amount of money we too often waste on trivial items; however with a ten dollar donation for a mosquito net one may save a life.

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/world.malaria.day/index.html

http://www.mmv.org

http://www.nothingbutnets.net/