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Remember World Malaria Day

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2008

April 25, 2008  

Sorry guys – I can't help myself – I feel obliged to inform you that this Friday is WORLD MALARIA DAY – April 25!  "World Malaria Day" replaces "Africa Malaria Day" which has been commemorated every year since 2001 on 25 April. It was a day set aside by African governments committed to rolling back malaria and meeting the United Nations malaria-related Millennium Development Goals.  

But now Member states of the World Health Organisation agree that greater awareness is needed. It is hoped that the establishment of World Malaria Day will mobilize communities across the world to get involved in the fight. It is in recognition of the fact that the world health community recognizes malaria as a global emergency that knows no borders.  

As many of you know, I am living in Mbale, Uganda with my husband Ian, helping to coordinate a community based malaria programme called LAMPS.  This programme aims to empower every village to organize themselves to fight malaria, rather than solely depending on handouts.  Each village will elect a Fight Malaria Committee, which is responsible to  keep malaria in check, assist the health workers and provision of free drugs to children under 5, assist in mosquito net distributions and retreatements, assist in the Government Indoor Spraying pro gramme, mobilize and motivate the community to perform basic prevention actions,etc.  

So, of course, I am biased and I am asking those who are willing, to give a donation to the LAMPS project on this special day since the project still lacks complete funds to implement the full 2 years of activities. Any little bit can help, but some options are:

*A mosquito net will protect Ugandan families from malaria ($10.00) 

*Support for malaria prevention project - UWCM, Uganda ($200.00)  

   "Malaria is the MAIN killer disease in Uganda and is responsible for 46% of deaths country wide!  320 people, especially children, die each day due to malaria".  For any more information, details, updates, stories, or photos, please contact us on uwcmlamps@gmail.com

Tash