MALARIA, A REAL GATE CRASHER WE ARE STILL TRYING TO KICK OUT…
Yearly, World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25th. It is such an important day that even the mosquitoes themselves acknowledge. This is to continuously remind us that they are the most annoying and most lethal hype men.
First and foremost, malaria isn’t just some random disease that is more common in the tropics, or a disease you have to learn about to pass a biology test in SS3. It is a parasite that takes control of one’s red blood cells and leaves one weak and helpless.
Let’s not transfer our aggression to the innocent bugs, that may sound weird but hear me out. Mosquitoes (or as I would like to call them, “party crashers”) are only the vectors, i.e , they are the unaffected primary hosts of plasmodium which we know as the malaria parasite. When a mosquito pretty much stabs an individual with its stylet, without consent of course, he/she would naturally feel pain, but it immediately uses its saliva as a pain killer to avoid being caught in the act. The alleged pain killer contains plasmodium, which enters the host’s bloodstream when a mosquito does what it does best. Plasmodium then feeds on the hemoglobin available, and one would think that would be all, absolutely not because it also releases toxins that are harmful to the body, and at the end of the day, because of how inconsiderate plasmodium is, one gets sick with malaria.
MALARIA’S TRAVEL HISTORY (AND MIND YOU, THEY ONLY FLY BUSINESS CLASS)
Millennia ago, malaria was on tour with chaos following close behind from the Roman Empire to China , and possibly Egypt. Would you believe a whole King Tut may have gotten hit with this menace? Fast forward to the modern world, we have satellites, jets that are faster than sound, solar powered devices and still we battle with a bug having a size on par with a grain of rice. Every year, more than 200 million people get malaria, and over 600 000 people die from it, most of them being children under five years of age. That is beyond tragic.
THANOS AKA THE MOSQUITOES
You know that annoying sound you hear at the peak of your sleep at 3AM? That is the sound of the anopheles mosquito, a professional disease dispatch rider. She (of course she is a female) injects plasmodium with so much poise and grace into us. If we look at it, technically mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals on the planet. What are tigers and lions compared to these little insects? Mosquitoes do not even roar but somehow still manage to do more damage than animals that can roar.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
We are attacking back. Mosquitoes really thought they could start this fight and go scot free? Scientists have made malaria vaccines and they are all over Africa. We have to give a big shout out to RTS AND R21 for doing such an amazing job. Nets are treated with insecticides and are very effective , and let’s not forget tested, approved and trusted drugs and other new treatments.
WHY BOTHER YOURSELF ABOUT THIS CAUSE?
This is because mosquitoes do not need a VISA or a stamped passport. Global and international travel, weak healthcare systems and climate change means malaria is literally a door step away from everyone. Even places that think they have completely eradicated malaria might be amazed at its strong comeback abilities. It hurts so much that children are dying from a disease that is beneath us, one that we know we can most definitely prevent. If this doesn’t bother you, it definitely should.
SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO ASIDES GIVING MOSQUITOES HOT SLAPS?
. Support global health initiatives as much as we can.
. Give donations to malaria prevention programs.
. Advocate for funding for malaria research.
. Environmental control by clearing bushes, gutters and waterlogged areas.
. Using mosquito repellents if available.
. Educate as many people as you can.
. Wear protective clothing in places that harbor mosquitoes
. Create awareness!
In conclusion, World malaria day is not just a health observance to fulfil all righteousness. It is a reminder that some day, we can and we will most definitely beat one of mankind’s most toxic enemies. With science and standing together as on, we would eradicate malaria one bite at a time, because after all, we should be catching flights and good vibes, not parasites.
DIJA YUSUFU PAPKA
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