World Malaria Day
More than one million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women and most of them in Africa.
What is World Malaria Day – April 25th
World Malaria Day was established in order to raise awareness and provide education and understanding about a disease that is preventable and curable, yet claims the life of a child every 30 seconds across the globe.
What is malaria?
Of the estimated 300-500 million annual cases of malaria, 90% occur in Africa, and 75% of these are in children under five.
Malaria is caused by a parasite, which is transmitted through infected mosquitoes bites. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache and vomiting. If left untreated, malaria can quickly become life threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. Simple, key interventions exist to control malaria, like prompt and effective treatment with anti-malarial drugs; the use of insecticidal nets and spraying insecticide indoors to control mosquitoes.
Malaria traps families and communities in a downward spiral of poverty, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and people who cannot afford treatment or who have limited access to health care. The economic impact includes not only the costs of health care, but also the costs of lost working days. Children that suffer malaria miss school so their education suffers, damaging their chances of employment in later life. According to the World Health Organization, the economic impact of malaria has been estimated to cost Africa $12 billion every year.
How Riders helps
Riders for Health’s mission is to ensure that men, women and children no longer die of easily preventable and treatable diseases, like malaria, due to isolation and poverty. By making sure that health workers can reach even the most remote rural communities on a regular basis, Riders is guaranteeing that these people can receive treatment, bed nets, insecticide sprays and education on how to stay healthy and lead a productive, malaria-free life.
Find more about how Riders' work is helping to fight malaria.
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