Not just a statistic!
This is Bushira. She four years old, attends Rock of Ages Academy and is in the baby class. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, and the average age of that child is 4.
Malaria is caused by blood parasites transmitted from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the absence of prompt and effective treatment, malaria can cause death. The African Region accounts for 85% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths worldwide. 85% of malaria deaths occur in children under five years of age. (Stats from WHO)
The children of Rock of Ages School may not be aware of these statistics, but every child has firsthand experience with the disease. Currently, the region the school is located in is in the midst of the rainy season and is experiencing a particularly severe epidemic of malaria. In addition, the mosquito-borne parasite that causes the disease is becoming resistant to the drugs currently available to treat it. ROA kids are being treated orally, and when they are very sick, intravenously at nearby St. Francis clinic.
ROA has a contract with St. Francis to treat any sick child, and 1 dollar of your monthly sponsorship payment is set aside to help pay for these medical treatments. In the past couple of months, the medical costs have doubled as the cases of malaria have increased. What previously cost a few dollars to treat now costs much more as more children need intravenous treatment and more costly drugs.
One of the most effective ways to prevent malaria is to use treated bed nets. When insecticide-treated nets are used properly by three-quarters of the people in a community, malaria transmission is cut by 50%, child deaths are cut by 20%, and the mosquito population drops by as much as 90%.
St. Francis suggested ROA hold a workshop at the school to educate the parents on what they can do to help fight this disease. H4U was able to raise enough money to sponsor the seminar as well as distribute a net to each child whose parent attended.
Below is a summary of the days events! What a blessing for the children and their families!
Our work is not done. Kids will still get malaria and need treatment. Nets will wear out and need to be replaced. New treatments will need to replace the ones that no longer work. But we are hopeful that this seminar along with the nets and continued availability of medical care will help alleviate the suffering.
We are thankful for your continued support.
Love and Blessings
