WORLD MALARIA DAY

We are hoping to raise $5,000 dollars to help continuously fight malaria by replenishing the medical supplies at our school clinic!

AMOUNT RAISED:

THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF MALARIA

Uganda has the 3rd highest prevalence of malaria in the entire world, with over 90% of its population considered at risk for the disease. Here are some key things to know about malaria in Uganda:

Malaria is transmitted to humans when they are bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Cases of malaria naturally increase during Uganda’s rainy seasons, which occur between March and May and from September to November. The three most effective ways to prevent this disease are vector control (preventing human-mosquito contact), preventive chemotherapy, and vaccines:

• Vector control. Vector control is accomplished by killing mosquitoes and protecting humans from mosquito bites. The most effective and economical strategies are using insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and indoor residual sprays (IRS).
• Preventive chemotherapy. Preventive chemotherapy refers to the use of one or more medicines to prevent malaria infections and symptoms. These are safe and cost-effective, and are intended to be used in conjunction with vector control methods.
• Vaccines. There is also an effective vaccine available called the RTS,S/AS01. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that it be administered to children who live in regions with moderate to high infection rates.

THE COSTS OF MALARIA

Malaria has a crippling effect on Ugandan lives, medical centers, and economies. It is the leading cause of death in the nation, particularly among children. In 2020 alone, the WHO reported about 20.4 million cases of malaria in Uganda and over 30,900 related deaths. The disease accounts for 30%-50% of outpatient cases and 15%-20% of all hospital admissions. Cases and deaths cause over $500 million in economic losses each year.

Malaria symptoms include fever and other flu-like complaints as well as anemia and jaundice. Severe cases can result in kidney failure, seizures, coma, and death.

In conjunction with making prevention and medical treatment more readily available in Uganda, the best way to help prevent common infections and diseases is to improve health education. This is especially true in the case of young children, who are most vulnerable to health-related hardships.

SUPPORT UGANDAN STUDENTS WITH RECURRING DONATIONS

In the past year, Simone’s Kids treated roughly 800 cases of malaria on campus. You can help improve the quality of life for Ugandans by supporting schools and education programs, which provide children with the tools they need to build a more promising future. Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty.

You can maximize your impact with recurring donations to Simone’s Kids by joining The Village. The Village is a passionate group of donors committed to bettering the lives of children in Uganda by making monthly donations that help to provide better meals, more teachers, more activities, and even post-graduation services.