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Malaria Awareness CampaignCurrent GoalsTo promote global malaria awareness campaign in terms of educating people about malaria and providing opportunities to donate voluntary services or financial support.To assist with the development and co-ordination or networks that enhance communications, maximise exchange or views and expertise among malaria scientists / researchers and health workers, and encourage the most cost effective use of available resources.To provide a concerted voice for scientists in issues of public debate concerning malaria.To educate individuals and institutions about the enormity of the malaria problem worldwide, and help to secure financial assistance for malaria research and control programs.To support the education and training of our generation of malaria researchers / scientists / and experts.About Malaria:Malaria is a serious disease caused when a parasitic single-celled organism, called Plasmodium, enters the red blood cells. It is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The most severe form of malaria is called malignant tertian malaria (because in many cases the symptoms recur every three days).It is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The other three, milder forms of malaria are caused by – P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae.Mosquitoes carrying malarial are found in tropical and subtropical climates. Therefore, a person who is planning to travel in such regions should contact a physician. The physician can inform the patient if malaria is endemic in the region, and if so, the physician can prescribe medication to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.Q: What are the sys[toms of malaria?A: After an incubation period of two to five weeks, there is a sudden attack of shivering followed by a high fever of at least 104.F (40.C).This is often accompanied by confusion, headache, and vomiting that lasts for several hours. These symptoms may occur at intervals of two to three days, depending on the type of malaria, and, if the disease is not treated, they will recur at irregular intervals for many years.Q: How is malaria diagnosed and treated?A: The diagnosis is made by examination of the blood sample, which reveal the presence of malarial parasites.Initial treatment is with the drug chloroquine. Unfortunately, P. falciparum, the most dangerous cause of malaria, is often resistant to chloroquine and many other drugs.The life cycle of the malaria parasiteAn infected mosquito injects Plasmodia with its bite.1) Each Plasmodium invades a liver cell and multiplies.2) The cell then bursts, releasing a new form of Plasmodia3) Each new Plasmodium then enters a red blood cell and multiplies.4) The cell then ruptures, and Plasmodia invades more blood cells.Some Plasmodia develop into a new form that infects other mosquitoes.More Details:Malaria is a dangerous parasitic disease common in tropical and subtropical areas. It is caused by a protozoan called Plasmodia and is transmitted by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. Victims of malaria suffer attacks of chills and fever, and 3 to 5 million people die of the disease yearly.There are four types of malaria, each of which is caused by different species of plasmodium. The four protozoans that cause malaria are P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. (The P. stands for Plasmodium).Symptoms:Malaria causes attacks of chill, with fever that recur about every 48 hours. In P. malariae infection, chills and fever recur about every 72 hours.A malarial attack lasts two or more hours and is accompanied by headache, muscular pain, and nausea. After each attack, the patient perspires, causing the body temperature to drop to normal. Between attacks, the patient fells better but weak and anaemic.The most serious type of the disease is caused by (P. falciparum. Its victims become weaker with each attack of fever, and most of them die if untreated. In P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae infection, the attacks get less severe and finally stop, even without treatment. But in P. vivax and P. malaria the symptoms may reappear after a long period of apparent freedom from the disease.Spread:The life cycle of the plasmodium protozoan includes three basic stages. The first stage occurs in the mosquito's body, the second and third stage take palace in a persons' body. The first stage begins when the mosquito bites someone who has malaria. Plasmodia enter the insect's body and reproduce in its stomach.Their young find their way into the mosquito's saliva. The second stage occurs after the mosquito bites another person. Plasmodia from the mosquito's saliva enter the person's blood. They travel to the liver, where they multiply and form clumps of parasites. After several days, these clumps burst and release new Plasmodia. During the third stage, each Plasmodium invades a red blood cell, where it multiplies again.The infected blood cells eventually rupture and release large numbers of Plasmodia which invade additional red blood cells. This invasion, multiplying, and cell rupture by the parasites continue, cause the periodic attacks of fever that are typical of malaria. An attack occurs each time the red blood cells rupture.Some Plasmodia develop further in human blood and are able to reproduce in a mosquito's body. They enter the insect's body when the mosquito bites an infected person, and their life cycle begins again.Treatment and Prevention:Physicians diagnose malaria by identifying Plasmodia in a sample of the patient's blood. Most cases can be cured by using two drugs, (chloroquine and primaquine). Some varieties of P. falciparum resist treatment by these drugs. In such cases, physicians prescribe quinine of some other drug.Chloroquine prevents malaria in addition to curing it. People who plan to travel in areas where they could be exposed to malaria should tale chloroquine before during and after their trip to avoid infection.Prevention of malaria also involves controlling the Anopheles mosquito. To do so, workers spray people's homes with insecticides. They drain, spray, or fill in bodies of stagnant water where the insects breed. People also use mosquito netting and insect repellents and put screens on windows and doors.Chloroquine:Is a drug that is taken by a person in malaria stricken regions to prevent them from getting the disease. The standard preventive dose is 300mg per week, but larger doses are required if a person actually gets malaria. In some parts of the world, however, some malarial organisms are resistant to the drug. Prolonged, high doses may cause permanent eye damage, intestinal disturbances, headaches, and itching of the skin. Chloroquine has also been used in the treatment of amebiasis, lupus erythematosus, and rarely, rheumatoid arthritis.Organisation:During the 1950's and 1960's the World Health Organisation (WHO) tried to wipe out malaria. At first, the widespread use of insecticides, particularly DDT, eliminated malaria in some areas and greatly reduced the number in others. However, the fight against malaria slackened, and the number of cases increased again. Anopheles mosquitoes became resistant to DDT and other insecticides, and some Plasmodia became resistant to drugs. Also the cost of fighting malaria increased greatly. These problems prompted researchers to step up efforts to develop a vaccine that could help eliminate the disease.The life cycle of the malaria parasite:Malaria is caused by a protozoan called Plasmodia. These organisms spend part of their lives in the bodies of human being and part in the bodies of Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease spreads from person to person through the bite of these mosquitoes.Each year, 300 – 500 million people become ill with malaria and several million die. 200 – 300 children from malaria each hour. Pregnant womenand non-immune adults are severly affected. Families and communities suffer world-wide as do national and global economies.History....About Our Organisation:Black Nation Youth & Community Development Project: was founded in 2000 / 2001 by My Lester V Brown. With the commitment and dedication of community leaders / health workers / youth leaders and community elders of, Banjulinding Village, Kombo North District, Western Division, The Gambia, West Africa. Plans were carried forward to establish and – NGO – in the Gambia.Our MissionTo facilitate the development and implementation of solutions, to the health, economic and social problems caused by malaria.To this end, the – BNYCDP Organisation is a young – NGO – establishment willing to affiliate with other charitable organisations working toward the development and advancement of underprivileged youths in rural villages especially in the fight to eradicate and control the spread of malaria.1) Global communication and networking2) Malaria research3) Education4) Training5) Leadership for malaria control6) Help to secure funds / financially for malaria research and training
