By Lindor Moudou, Voice of America
Malaria is an infectious disease caused in humans by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Worldwide, about 250 million people come down with the disease annually, and nearly one million die.
Iren Salama holds her baby Pendo as it is given an injection as part of a malaria vaccine trial at a clinic in the Kenya coastal town of Kilifi, November 23, 2010.
“If you look at health structure in Africa, 30 to 40 percent of people coming for consultation are coming for malaria. At the same time malaria is the first cause of death of children under five,” said Awa Marie Colle-Seck, who heads the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the global framework for coordinated action against the disease.
Among those actively involved in the fight against malaria is South African recording artist and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka. She says the disease hit home several years ago when it killed one of her colleagues.
“In 2004 I traveled to Gabon and one of my musicians, Phumzile, died of malaria. It was so sad. If I knew what I know now, I would have tried to help,” she said.
Chaka underscores the need for concerted action.
“We need the public, we need the government and we need the private sector to dig deep down in their pockets. But it is for the community as well to take it on and take the necessary precaution,” she urged.
There have been some bright spots in the anti-malaria campaign.
Read what these “bright spots” are in the rest of this great article here.
