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Making
Malaria History Campaign is a program being implemented under Africa
Youth Ministries Uganda Sports and Recreation Department. Through
Sport, as a development tool Africa Youth Ministries is already
implementing as programs such as "Tackling AIDS Through Sport,
Mines Risk Awareness, and Street Kids Sports Programs".
Through the Make Malaria History Campaign (MHC), the organization
plans to distribute over 100,000 treated mosquito nets to Children
Orphaned by AIDS and People Living with AIDS in the Districts of
Rakai, Masaka, Wakiso, Jinja, Iganga, Hoima, Gulu, Kitgum and Adjumani.
So far 500 Mosquito nets have been distributed through our sports
networks targeting needy Children enrolled already in our programs.
The major objective of this campaign is to make mosquito nets available
to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged poor segment of our population
who cannot afford to buy a mosquito net and as well create more
awareness on the dangers of malaria in rural communities. |
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The
Country Director Africa Youth Ministries Mr. Kunihira Albert hands
over a Mosquito Net to one of the Make Malaria History Through
Sport Program during the program launch at Mandela National Stadium
on the 7th of July 2007. |
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| Economic
Impact of Epidemic Malaria in Africa |
Malaria
is endemic to the poorest countries in the world, causing 300 to
500 million clinical cases and more than one million deaths each
year. More than 90% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa
(approximately 3,000 deaths each day), and almost all the deaths
are children younger than 5, where it kills an African child every
30 seconds. Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria
may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage.
Pregnant women and their unborn children are also particularly vulnerable
to malaria, which, during pregnancy, is a major cause of mortality,
low birth weight and maternal anemia. And while we know malaria
is preventable, the lack of resources, coupled with a climate very
hospitable to the deadliest strain of malaria, has made the disease
a leading cause of death among African children. |
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Some
of the SUUBI U12 Soccer Club pose for a photo during the Make
Malaria History Through Sport program Launch at Mandela National
Stadium on the 7th of July 2007 |
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| The
good news is that malaria is both preventable and treatable.
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In
Sub-Saharan Africa, 15% of all disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)
are lost to malaria.
Over the last two decades, morbidity and mortality from malaria
have been increasing due to deteriorating health systems, growing
drug and insecticide resistance, periodic changes in weather patterns,
civil unrest, human migration, and population displacement. Malaria
largely affects poor people and rural populations carry the overwhelming
burden of disease as compared to urban centers where a relatively
better access to service exists. People living in poor quality housing
are particularly at risk.
Poor people are at greater risk of complications and death, because
their lack or extremely limited access to early diagnosis and prompt
and effective treatment. Malaria also contributes to poverty by
reducing the productivity of infected people and their caretakers.
Households spend significant sums (US$ 0.39 to 3.84/capita per year
in Sub-Saharan Africa) to prevent and treat malaria.
It has been estimated that malaria has slowed economic growth in
African countries by 1.3% per year. Compounded over 35 years, this
amounts to a 32% reduction in the GDP of countries in Africa where
malaria is endemic. The economic losses due to malaria in Africa
have recently been estimated at about US$12 billion per year. However,
the impact of epidemic malaria on the economy, where the health
service delivery system falls under serious logistic and management
problems, could be much higher than these estimates.
In the Eastern part of Africa, where malaria epidemics mostly occur
during seasons of peak agricultural activities, the condition not
only excludes the sick ones from daily agricultural activities,
but also the healthy ones who should take care for their sick family
members and relatives. The lack of enough manpower during peak agricultural
activities also decreases productivity and hence lowering income
and aggravating food insecurity. However, there is no a documented
evidence on the economic impact of malaria epidemics that could
indicate estimates of the extent of its impact on national and household
economy. |
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Priority
beneficiaries of the Make Malaria History program are Children
Orphaned By AIDS mostly those living as Child Headed House Holds. |
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Malaria
and Education:
Malaria greatly affects the regular school attendance of children
in rural areas, thus affecting their studies adversely or they will
remain at home to look after their parents, relatives or siblings
who are suffering from malaria until they are recovered fully.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium. The parasite
is spread or transmitted to people by the bite of an infected female
Anopheles mosquito, which feeds on human blood at dusk and during
early night hours. Some vectors have biting pecks around midnight
or early hours of the morning.
Human is the only important reservoir of human malaria. Plasmodium
falciparum is the commonest species in most Sub-Saharan Africa countries
and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There
are other species of malaria parasite. Malaria symptoms, which appear
about 9 to 14 days after the infectious mosquito bite, include fever,
headache, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms. If drugs are not
available for treatment or if the parasites are resistant to them,
the infection can lead to coma, severe life-threatening anemia,
and death by infecting and destroying red blood cells and by clogging
the capillaries that carry blood to the brain (cerebral malaria)
or other vital organs.
The Mosquito Net
Mosquito nets protect sleeping people from mosquitoes when the mosquitoes
are the most active (at night, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.). Most
nets can last up to five years and cover at least two people. Talk
to your pupils at school and encourage them to talk to their parents
about providing a family in Africa with a $10 mosquito net. You
can help save a life—maybe even a kid your age! Malaria infection
can be controlled by providing sustainable preventive measures,
such as the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN)
Mosquito Nets Appeal:
Africa Youth Ministries Uganda is sending out this appeal to well
wishers, friends, partners and donors to donate both materially
and financially towards make mosquito nets available to Orphaned
Children and People Living With AIDS in Uganda. Every $10 gift provides
a family a bed net – including the purchase, distribution
and other critical elements like education, monitoring and evaluation.
Bed nets are only one tool in the comprehensive solution to control
malaria and a small portion of each $10 gift supports Malaria No
More’s overall work to control this deadly disease. Funding
will be provided to Malaria No More's established partners in Africa,
such as UNICEF and the American Red Cross, to turn your donation
into lives saved. |
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Another
priority area for beneficiaries of the Make Malaria History Program
are people living with AIDS, malaria weakens the immune system
of PLWA’s |
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| Donate
please fill in the form below: |
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