Malaria

Malaria. That's that mosquito disease right? Did you know that malaria used to kill people in the United States? Did you know that a child dies every 60 seconds from malaria? Did you know that malaria is the number one killer in Guinea? Did you know that it's 100% preventable?

Malaria is a disease transmitted by the female mosquito Anopheles. What happens is that a mosquito will bite a sick person and then transmits the disease to the next person bitten. Malaria is caused by the parasite plasmodium, or which there are 4 types. The most deadly of these four is plasmodium falciparum, which is the strain predominantly found in Guinea. While anyone can get malaria, those most at risk are pregnant women, children under 5, those who are HIV positive, and foreigners. Once stricken, malaria presents itself with a high and cyclical fever accompanied by chills, body aches and severe headaches. Severe cases can result in seizures, coma, and even death. Malaria is no joke. In fact, after several weeks in Guinea, I experienced a mild case of it and it was the worst headache of my life. I laid in bed, sweating and then shivering, head pounding, with the worst fever I've had here. Thankfully, my case was minor and it went away quickly. For the cases that don't go away, there is treatment available. In Guinea, Artemensinin-Based Combination Therapy is used to treat someone with malaria. You'll have to ask someone else exactly what the previous sentence means. Another option is oral quinine, quinine being something found in tonic water (although in a much smaller dose). Both of these options are available here, and are reasonably priced.

As I mentioned before, malaria is the number one killer in Guinea. Malaria accounts for about 25% of the deaths of children under 5, and 30% of all hospitalizations. The good news? It can be stopped! There are many ways to prevent the transmission of malaria. The most effective of these measures is sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net every night. This not only reduces the likelihood of being bitten, but the insecticide kills any mosquito landing on the net. Other measure of protection including spraying houses with insecticide, eliminated mosquito breeding grounds, aka, stagnant water, wearing long sleeves and pants, drowning oneself in bug spray, or taking some for of malaria prophylaxis. This last method is popular with foreigners, who take one of three different types of medicine. All PC Volunteers in Guinea, and throughout most of SSA are required to take these medications all year round. Finally, pregnant women are encouraged to take malaria prevention medicine, in order to protect themselves and the baby, and this medicine is supposed to be continuously available at health centers.

So that is the deal. Malaria is spread by mosquitos and cannot be spread by people, or as the people believe here, mangoes. In addition, malaria is PREVENTABLE and for the most part has been eliminated in countries such as the US, Morocco, Senegal, Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana. It takes a lot of work, but it is possible. Around the globe, PC Volunteers are involved in Malaria Month, one month dedicated to the prevention and eventual elimination of the disease. Volunteers, including myself are planning activities in their village to educate their communities. Here in Coliah, I'll be educating my students by incorporating malaria into my math lessons, I'll be going around my neighborhood making sure people are using their bed nets (or helping to hand them if they aren't) and I'm also helping to plan a soccer game, during which we will talk to people about malaria and how to stop it. So, Happy Malaria Month! Thanks for reading, and please share what you learned with others.  

Click here to read a poem/PSA by Doctor Seuss about malaria - http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/thisisann.htm