Posted on April 25, 2007 - by Larry

Malaria Awareness Day

 
Approximately 90% of the estimated 1 million deaths caused by malaria each year occur in Africa, where every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria. To confront this public health problem, on April 25, 2000, government leaders from 44 African countries met in Abuja, Nigeria, and signed the Abuja Declaration, committing their countries to decreasing malaria deaths in Africa by 50% by 2010. This event has been commemorated every year since on Africa Malaria Day. In the US we observe Malaria Awareness day in support of Africa Malaria Day.


The World Health Organization annually reports between 350 million and 500 million acute cases of malaria, resulting in more than 1 million deaths worldwide. About 90 percent of those deaths occur in Africa. Malaria is the leading cause of death in African children younger than 5.


What most people don’t realize is that malaria is 100 percent preventable and treatable. There is a pill a person can take that can cure malaria. Malaria is a disease of poverty as children and adults are unable to afford the medication.


I’ve gotten my malaria pills for the trip and I am a little anxious about taking them (all kinds of possible side effects…headache, disturbed sleep, shaking, usually of the hands (tremor), visual disturbances, balance problems involving the inner ear (vertigo), pins and needles (paraesthesia), awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations), changes in blood pressure, sleepiness, weakness or loss of strength, chest pain, skin reactions such as rash and itch, disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain, and of course my personal favorite; psychiatric reactions such as depression, mood changes, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, panic attacks, fits (convulsions), dizziness, restlessness, forgetfulness, psychosis, paranoia, emotional instability, aggression and agitation.) HOWEVER my pharmacist and doctor tell me that malaria is so much worse. So bring on the random hallucinations I say! Whew!