I'm being brutally honest with you guys right now, I had the HARDEST time thinking about what to write about this week. With it being the fourth week of school, my crazy busy schedule and the all nighters, I haven't been able to think! But, sitting here at this lap top almost in tears from stress I happened to look down at something on my desk. A small bag of popcorn with a small note attached that I was handed while walking to the gym. The Global Outreach team here at Grand Canyon University is focusing on spreading awareness about Mala, specifically educating the students on campus about the cause, effects and how we can help stop the outbreak.
Who's at risk?
Babies to children to children under the age of 5, non-immune travellers, those infected with HIV/AIDS and pregnant women. Malaria is a cause of spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth and severe maternal anaemia, and is also responsible for about one third of preventable low-birth-weight babies.
In areas where malaria is easily spread, children under 5 are particularly susceptible to infection, illness and death; more than two thirds (70%) of all malaria deaths occur in this age group.
Anopheles Mosquitoes
In most cases Malaria is spread through the bite of these Mosquitoes. The intensity of transmission depends on the parasite itself, the vector, the human host, and the environment. Transmission is more intense where the lifespan of mosquitoes are longer so that the parasite has time to complete its development inside. Mosquitoes prefers to bite humans more than animals. Malaria epidemics can occur with climate and other conditions suddenly favor transmission in areas where people have little or no immunity-mostly after the rainy season.
Symptoms
First symptoms can include; fever, headaches, chills, and vomiting. If not treated, malaria can cause severe illness which often leads to death. Children with severe malaria develop one or more of the following, severe anaemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria. For adults, multi-organ involvement is also frequent.
Although I am on the verge of some mental breakdown from the weight of school, it only takes just a moment for God to calm my thoughts long enough to look down from my screen to this small bag of popcorn with a small note attached. In that moment, I forgot about my problems and my heart went out for those who are affected by this disease and are in danger. I thought about my baby nephews and the little kids I babysit, those are the ages where Malaria is at this moment killing so many other kids around the world without the proper resources.
My challenge to you is to educate yourselves. There are ways you can be involved and ways you can be a part of the change. You can bring life to another little boy or girl or woman who is creating a life or a man or woman who is just working to care for their families. I encourage you to check out Against Malaria Foundation's website, where 100% of your donation goes towards purchasing Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets! The average cost of just one net is $2.50. Check them out.
After you read this, go hug your siblings, your young ones and your loved ones. Let them know you're thinking about them. You are blessed more than you know.
