| Malaria in Africa is a gigantic problem that affects | | | | such as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and in |
| millions of lives. In modern countries of the world, | | | | severe cases, coma and death. |
| malaria is under control. Malaria mosquitoes are | | | | Malaria is Dangerous in Angola |
| fumigated. Vaccine to treat and prevent malaria is | | | | According to the 2008 World Health Organization's |
| widely available. People with malaria are few and far | | | | (WHO) World Health Statistics report, malaria is at |
| between. But in the southern hemisphere, malaria in | | | | epidemic stages in Africa. The majority of malaria |
| Africa makes up 80% of the cases world wide. Why | | | | cases happen to young children. According to the |
| is the problem so bad in a country like Angola? | | | | 2008 WHO report, 8.3% of children under the age of |
| For 25 years, until 2002, civil war raged in Angola. | | | | five die with malaria, which is about one in 12 children. |
| That war ended six year ago, yet displaced people | | | | Simple Solutions to Keep Mosquitoes Out |
| from Angola are still rebuilding their homes. Since | | | | Taking action to prevent mosquito bites is the first |
| there are no lumber yards or home improvement | | | | step in preventing malaria from affecting the children |
| centers, the people have few sources for the proper | | | | of Angola. Hanging a mosquito net over a bed that |
| building materials. Instead, they do what they can and | | | | keeps mosquitoes away from sleeping children is one |
| their crude huts have open windows. | | | | way to prevent mosquito bites. The mosquitoes still |
| The problem is the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes bite | | | | get into the house, though. |
| infected animals and pick up malaria cells. During the | | | | Another solution is to cover the open windows with |
| day and at night, those malaria-bearing mosquitoes fly | | | | screen mesh so that malaria bearing mosquitoes don't |
| through the open windows. Many children are bitten | | | | enter the house at all. Just putting a screen mesh |
| and and contract malaria, resulting in serious illness | | | | over the outside of the window can prevent |
| and even death. | | | | mosquitoes from invading a hut and can keep children |
| Just what is malaria? | | | | safe from malaria. |
| Malaria is a disease that starts when cells infected | | | | Collecting mosquito nets, screening and installation |
| with malaria parasites enter the blood stream. These | | | | supplies like staple guns, staples and shears is a great |
| parasites multiply in blood cells causing symptoms of | | | | first step. The next challenge is to find a reputable |
| anemia (light headedness, shortness of breath, | | | | source to distribute these supplies to those who |
| tachycardia etc.), as well as other general symptoms | | | | need them to prevent malaria in Africa. |