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Nearly 3,000 children needlessly die from malaria every day. That is why AmeriCares plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of this deadly disease. We honor World Malaria Day each April 25 in the hope that we can help stop this tragedy.
AmeriCares has been involved with many malaria programs worldwide – from post-tsunami Indonesia to Myanmar and now, most recently, Haiti. Critical medicines and anti-mosquito treatments delivered by AmeriCares are helping to stop the spread of this deadly disease in Haiti, which is still struggling to recover from the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.
“Haiti is home to one of the most serious strains of mosquito-borne malarial infections,” reports AmeriCares Medical Director Dr. Frank Bia. “Malaria causes high fever, coma, massive convulsions and can ultimately lead to death. Unless something is done very soon, we estimate as many as 120,000 people could contract this potentially fatal disease.”
As the rainy season intensifies and storm water stagnates, it creates the perfect environment for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Shanties and makeshift tents offer Haiti’s homeless earthquake survivors little protection from infectious swarms.
In response, AmeriCares is working with local and international partners to protect some of the most vulnerable people in Haiti by:
Despite being highly preventable, malaria kills up to 3 million people each year, mostly children. The vast majority of malaria cases occur in children under the age of 5 and can cause severe developmental delay and permanent brain damage. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable and are at increased risk for miscarriage and low-birth weight delivery.
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