Malaria, a huge threat in Mali
Report and photo by Justin Douglass, World Vision Mali

Marcelle lies on her grandmother’s lap. She has malaria and is extremely tired, has fever and refuses to eat.

Malaria infects over 500 million people annually and kills more than 3 million people each year.

In Mali, malaria has an economic burden on the family when a child becomes sick as the mother has to care for the child. The cost of medicine makes life even more difficult for families who at times need to borrow the money to pay for malaria medicine.

“One per cent of negative growth per year over the last 50 years can be attributed entirely to malaria,” said Professor Nick White from the Oxford University.

The immunities that Africans have developed over generations no longer protect them from malaria now. The strains of the disease are mutating and the standard drugs are becoming less effective.
Keeping malaria under control will increase the productivity of families which will directly increase their family income. Malaria robs people of time, energy and resources - as a result, families remain in poverty.

Those who don’t have access to health services can die from malaria. The final stage before death causes cerebral retardation.

The rainy season brings the much needed rain for crops, but in low lying areas it creates stagnant pools and puddles, a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. There are many villages in Mali where children are living next to pools of water infested with mosquito larva.

Marcelle Kamba was bitten by a mosquito and contracted malaria. Her grandmother, Maminin Dembele, cares for Marcelle by giving her traditional medicine because it is much cheaper. However, after five days, Marcelle was still sick with fever and started vomiting. She was extremely tired, but did not sleep well and did not want food. She was so weak that her grandmother had to carry her to the health centre. “It makes me sad to see Marcelle sick like this,” said Maminin, looking down at Marcelle and holding her hand.

Mosquitoes are usually nocturnal, so sleeping under a net is important. “Before we had mosquito nets, my children suffered from malaria. Now that we have mosquito nets, the malaria has been reduced a lot,” said Abdoulaye. He knows only too well the dangers of malaria. He knows of children and friends who have died from malaria.

World Vision has implemented programmes to combat malaria in the community, which includes:

1. Malaria awareness trainings that help the community understand the symptoms and treatments for malaria.
2. Distribution of mosquito nets to children and pregnant women.
3. Treating mosquito nets. World Vision contributed chemicals, gloves and masks needed to treat mosquito nets. The treated mosquito nets kill mosquitoes on contact, reducing the chances of children getting malaria.

Child Sponsorship saves lives

Malaria, a preventable and treatable disease, has killed thousands of children in developing countries.
World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Programme addresses the basic needs of children by providing food, clean water, education and health care, including the provision of mosquito nets for those who are affected.

Click here to help children like Marcelle!