Nations all over the world have been fighting for equality and equal rights all throughout history. However, in the year 2013 not everybody is equal and there are people dying as we speak, while we could save them. Africa suffers and sees their children die from malaria and poverty. According to UNICEF (2002), 99 percent of deaths from malaria occur in Africa, where one in six childhood deaths is due to malaria. In terms of numbers, about 3,000 people die from malaria in Africa within each passing day, among of which are children and pregnant women (Okwa).
Malaria is a very serious temperature-dependent disease (Snow and Omumbo) that finds prosperous ground to grow in places with hot temperatures, such as the sub-Saharan Africa. Like most infectious disease, malaria also causes fever and severe pathology, including anaemia (Snow and Omumbo), which can result to sub-optimal infant growth and development, if not mortality (UNICEF). Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnose, because symptoms are so common with other infectious disease, which puts children living in Africa under extreme danger. Good news is that malaria can be both prevented and treated, thanks to the medical advancements of the modern world. As a matter of fact, if malaria is treated within 24 hours of onset of symptoms, there are increased chances of complete healing (UNICEF). Something as simple as sleeping under insecticide treated nets have proven to help drop child mortality by 20 percent (UNICEF); unfortunately, the children of Africa do not have even as much, and die.
Poverty is another plague that African people need to confront on a day-to-day basis. Communicable diseases, like HIV/AIDS are directly linked to poverty (Collins and Rau). According to statistics, there are approximately 24 million people in sub-Saharan Africa that have HIV, as in 2011, including more than 2 million children (UNAIDS). Mainly due to malnourishment and poor health that lacks proper health care and medical care, people in Africa continue to die from a disease that is affected by their poverty and has become a serious hindrance to their country’s development (FAO Corporate Document Repository).
NETSFORLIFE Africa organization is dedicated to combat malaria by providing proper medication and education to poor African people and those in need, especially children. Wes strongly believe that a nation of educated individuals has set the solid basis for development. To strive to bring community awareness and mobilization, in regards malaria prevention, distribute insecticide-treated nets to save people’s lives, monitor and evaluate key-indicators to guarantee goals have been met and provide people of Africa with rapid diagnostic tests that will help them early diagnose and treat their disease.
For all the aforementioned reasons, we heartily request for your donation. Just as little as $1 can truly save a child’s life. With just $1 today, you will help a child in Africa afford the basic means to support himself/herself. The dream for a better world where everyone is entitled to proper healthcare can only be fulfilled if we all believe in it and are willing to make it happen. It does not need much. Just think that with $1 you help provide the unprivileged with a fundamental right of theirs: humane living standards where families can raise children without fearing of them dying on them out of malaria. The needy and poor of Africa need your help and support to stay alive and raise their kids; never again has a cup of coffee worth more value than now.
Works Cited:
Collins J and Rau B (2000). AIDS in the Context of Development. Social Policy and Development Programme Paper 4, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development: Geneva
FAO: Corporate Document Repository (2002), The Impact of HIV/AIDS on rural households and land issues in Southern and Eastern Africa. Web. Nov. 11, 2013 <http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ad696e/ad696e04.htm>
Okwa OO. The Status of Malaria among Pregnant Women: A Study in Lagos, Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health:2003; 7 (3): 77– 83
Robert W. Snow and Judy A. Omumbo. Disease and Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2nd edition: Chapter 14: Malaria. Jamison DT, Feachem RG, Makgoba MW, et al., editors. Washington (DC): World Bank; 2006. Web. Nov. 11, 2013 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2286/>
UNAIDS (2011). 2012 Global Report on AIDS epidemic. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. Print. ISBN 978-92-9173-996-7.
UNICEF (2003), Health: Malaria. Web. Nov. 11, 2013 <http://www.unicef.org/health/index_malaria.html>
