The Malaria Scourge.

Malaria, according to the advanced oxford dictionary is a mosquito
borne intermittent and remittent fever endemic to warmer regions and
caused by a protozoan parasite (plasmodium). As we all know,its effect
is caused by mosquito bites. The female anopheles mosquito carries the
malaria parasite and injects it into your body anytime it bites you.

Not so many people in developed countries know about malaria because
it is not that common there. However, almost every Nigerian and
African knows malaria and how it kills people. The climate and
topography in Nigeria supports mosquito presence and as such, it is a
disease common in this tropical region of the world. According to the
World Health Organization, malaria kills faster than HIV/AIDS though
not as deadly as it is. 90% of all malaria deaths occur in Africa with
60% involving Nigeria. The menace of mosquito bite on the human flesh
especially children from 0-10, according to World Health Organization
reports, causes One death every 35 seconds in sub-Saharan Africa.

A visit to hospitals around clearly reveals that majority of Nigerians
are under the spell of malaria fever. I have suffered from malaria
several times but still living because there are several anti-malaria
drugs out there to cure malaria. The problem that occur is that
sometimes the malaria parasite develops immunity towards those drugs
so that the drugs don't work again and that is why malaria is very
dangerous and people still die because the parasite has developed
immunity.

Most adults in Nigeria and Africa have developed some immunity towards
the malaria parasite and survive mosquito bites. However, most
children have not yet developed that immunity towards the parasite and
that is why malaria continues to kill children in record numbers but
not adults. Another problem also is that, those living in rural areas
where there are no hospitals and no health centres to get
anti-malarial drugs and treatment often die.

SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA:

The symptoms of malaria include:
1) Feverish conditions.

2) High blood pressure.

3) Loss of appetite, Diarrhoea.

4) Muscle aches, Nausea, Cough.

5) Sweating that repeats every one,two or three days are typical.

6) Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).

7) And in some severe cases,dizziness.

WAYS TO PREVENT MALARIA:

There are several ways also One can prevent malaria attacks but
however the most effective and recommended is the use of treated
MOSQUITO BED NETS. Sleeping with mosquito nets prevents mosquitoes
from getting closer to your body.
Other ways are by clearing the bushy areas around one's house as that
destroys mosquito's breeding place. Insecticides also help to kill
mosquitoes.

The One Child One Net Agency is a public-spirited organization engaged in the protection of children against mosquito bites and malaria. This arose from the need to help curb malaria deaths along with the United Nations by 2015. We'll solve malaria cases and challenges through distribution of cost-effective, innovative and scientifically oriented insecticidal treated nets.

We'll give it out at little or no cost in addition to helping school wards grow morally by organizing seminars effectively driven at building sound character.