Today is World Malaria Day according to the World Health Organisation malaria epidemics kill more than 100,000 people of all ages every year; an estimated 10,000 of these women and 200,000 of their infants die as a result of malaria infection during pregnancy. “Malaria remains a major threat for 3.2 billion people in more than 107 countries throughout the world,” says Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, president of the International Red Cross Federation.
Malaria is such a huge issue that it is difficult for a small charity such as The Butterfly Tree to get involved. However we already have a malaria project in place, as the Zambian communities we work in are badly affected by malaria. The disease can be treated but in some of the remote communites they are unable to get to a clinic or do not realise they have malaria through lack of education; mosquito nets are the answer. Although the government issues nets there is never enough for each member of a family, many sharing one net, which makes it impossible to get complete coverage.
We have provided malaria testing kits and TME’s edcuatioinal DVDs on ‘avoiding malaria’ and ‘bed nets’. Now we are appealing for donations to provide more children with mosquito nets.
Get involved on World Malaria Donate a mosquito net for £2.50.
