Help Prevent Malaria!

April 1, 2012

I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about a disease that kills thousands of people in Burkina Faso, and throughout the world, every year: malaria. As many of you may remember, the devastating effects of malaria hit me personally last year, when my neighbor and close friend in Niger, Malika, died from malaria at age 7. Malika’s life – like so many others, was lost because of lack of treatment for this completely curable and highly preventable disease.

This year, in addition to educating myself and my community (and you) more about malaria, I am working with a women’s association to take definitive action to help limit the exposure of community members (especially pregnant woman and children who are most at risk) by fabricating an organic mosquito repellant using ingredients found in our community. By combining the leaves of the neem tree with shea butter (and a few other ingredients), an effective salve for deterring mosquitos is created. The project empowers women, creates a source of income, and positively impacts the community.

April 25^th is World Malaria Day. Please do what you can to help raise awareness of this devastating illness. In addition to work in my local community, I am part of Stomp Out Malaria, a continent-wide campaign to increase malaria prevention across Peace Corps countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Please check out http://stompoutmalaria.tumblr.com/ to see highlights of Peace Corps projects from across Africa.

Thank you.

Alynn

Educate Yourself About Malaria in Burkina Faso

CAUSE: Malaria is caused by a parasite that can be transmitted by female anopheles mosquitos who feed after dusk. The parasite resides primarily in the liver, blood and placenta.

HIGH RISK GROUPS: Pregnant women (resulting in low birth weight, miscarriage or maternal death), children under the age of 5.

PREVENTION TECHNIQUES:

· Proper use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets

· Use of Neem Cream (see above)

· Use of mosquito repellent

· Skin coverage

· Use of window screens

· Prenatal counceling

MALARIA IN BURKINA FASO STATS (2009):

· 4.5 million cases

· 8,000 deaths

· 45% of health center consultations

· 54% of hospitalizations

· 60% of overall deaths

· Use of preventative measures

o Only 23% of families owned at least one treated mosquito net

o Only 10% of children under the age of 5 were sleeping under treated mosquito nets