It all started with a severe headache…

Our nine journalists are packing their suitcases ahead of their imminent trip to Germany. But earlier this week it was touch and go whether Kakaire would make the journey…

Health poster, Tanzania

It all started with a severe headache, body aches and joint pains, followed by high temperatures. Malaria. I had come down with one of the leading killer diseases in my country - the annual death toll is estimated to run into tens of thousands.

Like most people who live in areas where malaria is endemic, it wasn’t my first attack. But now I was worried that it might put pay to my trip to the G8.

Until then all I’d been thinking about was what weather and food to expect, and what kind of hospitality my hosts would offer. The day I was diagnosed, I couldn’t think straight and work was out of the question.

Back in 1997 I had life-threatening malaria. I’m not sure if at the time the anti-malarial ACTs (artemisin-based combination therapies) – the current gold-standard treatment – were widely available. If so, they were probably too expensive anyway. Somehow I managed to get through it… with the grace of the creator.

This time around, it wasn’t a complicated attack and I could afford the $10 to get the ACT treatment. But many people in Uganda can’t pay this. ACTs are more expensive than other standard treatments and supplies are sometimes limited.

I’m one of the lucky ones. When most of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, the cost of the drugs is simply draining. Perhaps the G8 leaders should consider what happens to those who can’t even raise a dollar…

Comments

[Damas Ogwe]

Malaria is indeed a major killer in East Africa. there is a campaign in Kenya targeting pregnant women and children under 5 years who are considered to be at greater risk.

Malaria is not just a health problem-it is an economic problem as well. Many work hours lost due to sick leaves attributed to malaria impacts negatively on profitability, significant portions of incomes are spent on treatment and management of malaria etc.

There is a campaign in Kenya to encourage use of treated mosquito nets.These are provided at subsidized costs of Kshs 50.00(about USD 0.70) But this may not be a foolproof solution, if you ask yourself the following question as I regularly do, 'How many hours do we spend inside a mosquito net, whether treated or not?'

Anti-malaria campaigns should involve provision of nets, free medication (this is already in place in Kenyan public health institutions) and the eradication of the anopheles mosquito.

We are being taken through arguments against use of DDT in mosquito eradication. In as much as DDT may have some negative effects on the environment, the begging question is , 'what other options do we have?' or 'Must we sit back and watch our children, brothers, sisters, parents, friends and neighbors succumb to malaria?'

DDT has been successfully used in other continents, its side effects notwithstanding. Which is a better evil?, 'use DDT to prevent malaria' or 'avoid DDT and perish'

Damas Ogwe
Project Oficer
Ugunja Community Resource Centre
P. O. Box 330 - 40606 Ugunja, Kenya
Cell: +254 721 605082 or +254 733 566832
Land Line: + 254 57 34131
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.ugunja.org

[Rina Mukherji]

DDT has indeed been proven to be dangerous to the environment. But a good antidote is Neem, which is always planted in gardens or in the vicinity of homes in India to keep pests away. Neem is eaten all over India in the summer months to keep prickly heat and skin problems away, while neem leaves are recommended by medical practitioners to speed up the healing of pox and measles. Neem is today being used for organic manure too. Perhaps, Africa should also use Neem.

[SWEET PEA]

Hey, just googled you!!
Read your article. and you are right...actually you have just made me realise that malaria only disturbs poor countries
i hear mbo you can die of malaria while in the USA coz it is an extinct disease there. They dont have drugs for it it doesnt exist.. so you will be isolated before they can "study you" and import drugs for your treatment!!!!

Happy new year and hope you are having a ball at work

So are you still taking me to Addis Ababa .....i have a CRAVING!!!!

Am online now

[Sandals Online]

All that you do, do with your might; things done by halves are never done right.

[Paul Smith]

Merci beaucoup pour votre article.