HEALTH

MALARIA

Malaria No More takes fight against 
malaria to orphanages

ENGAGEMENT TO FIGHT MALARIA (srce Mr. chocolate)

Malaria is a deadly parasite disease transmitted through the bite of female anopheles mosquito that mostly bites at night. The disease has continued to be one of the main concerns of the Ministry of Public in Cameroon. Cameroon is among the 10 endemic countries hard-hit in the world and as a matter of fact, according to the National Malaria Control Program report, in 2016, 1,479 345 cases were confirmed in Cameroon; being 20% of diseases in health centres and making 42% of hospitalization, 2 639 deaths and 65% recorded in children less than 5 years of age.

It is against this backdrop that Malaria No More (MNM) through her ambassadors on Friday, November 2, 2018 sensitized and donated about a hundred Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) to two orphanages; Foyer Père Monti and Orphilinat Marie claude Nlate, all in the Ebolowa II. Foyer Père Monti is a home that plays host to over 75 children who either can’t talk or hear and those living with disabilities https://web.facebook.com/100009417697222/videos/2250553658601869/?id=100009417697222 and https://web.facebook.com/bdorette/videos/10217506207468377/?q=bouwe%20ndjiele%20dorette (source: bouwe ndjiele dorette). Here, the centre runs an inclusive educational facility where they are taught using sign language. Orphilinat Marie Claude Nlate on her part has about 20 children who are made up of street children, abandoned children, orphans, and distressed children.   During the sensitization campaign in these centres, the orphans, physically challenged, those with hearing and talking impairments and those around them were schooled on malaria prevention and control. They were equally taught how to take care of the nets given and to join fight malaria because everyone is at risk.

 To spice the event, some music and dance competitions were organized, tug-of-war and others were employed to thrill the children and participants who participated and watched with growing eagerness.

Going by the testimonies on ground, Ebolowa really turns out to be a fertile ground for mosquitoes especially between August and November. During this period, many malaria cases are recorded as intimated by one madam Oussena Bella, physically challenged and a teacher at their special inclusive learning centre provided for these children by the catholic church in Ebolowa. She said this is partly so because of increase in the amount of rain fall recorded within this period and had suffered from it two weeks before.

Reacting to the goodwill gesture of MNM, the representative of the Divisional Delegate of Social Affairs for Ebolowa II, madam Bekono Aurore thanked the NGO for thinking about the orphanages that never used LLINs. She equally used the opportunity to urge the beneficiaries to put the nets to good use and for the purpose they were donated. Same message of thank you came from the Director of Foyer Père Monti, Rev. Fr. Ngong Chu Alang Lucas who said the donation was a stitch in time given that they had had many of their children suffer from malaria in the past weeks.

Note should be taken, safest way to prevent malaria is to sleep under a treated mosquito net though many complain they generate a lot of heat. But, they too should not be deceived to think that suffering from malaria, paying cost of treatment and even lost of lives is better than heat they consider the nets generate. Besides, it is just about the mindset and high time health issues be rated first.

By Awoh Caleb in Ebolowa