Burkina Faso (MNN) — Malaria afflicts 216 million people annually and claims the lives of about 655,000. Today, thousands around the world are working to decrease those numbers.
Today is World Malaria Day, and NGO's all around the globe are advocating the provision of mosquito nets, mosquito-repellent coils, medicines, and other resources to put an end to an otherwise preventable and treatable disease.
Apostolic Church of Wemtenga Child Development Center, run by Compassion International, recently organized a malaria awareness campaign in Burkina Faso. It was simply a part of what Compassion International does on a regular basis.
The purpose of the campaign was to educate parents on a disease that has seized many of their children. Parents were taught how to avoid harboring mosquitoes which could easily infect children with plasmodium, which is responsible for malaria.
A Compassion staff member says most parents had no idea that stagnant water, household refuse, and other rubbish in the home could increase the risk of malaria. Parents are not only more conscious of their kids' health now, but they're even more willing to take their children to the doctor when they show symptoms.
Many of the children registered with the center also received mosquito nets. Children who have since joined the program have yet to receive nets, though. They have been given mosquito coils in the meantime, but these coils which repel mosquitoes only when lit last only about 10 days.
The Compassion staff is so dedicated to taking care of the community, that they have gone knocking on every door to find out who does not have a net. "If need be, we will write a proposal to be able to provide all of the children registered at our development center with nets," says the center director.
This kind of dedication to physical wel-lbeing provides Compassion with even more credibility to share the Good News. Pray for opportunities to do so as the center continues to care for the physical needs of the community.
Compassion works to prevent and treat malaria not just today, but every day through various means. Click here to learn how you can help Compassion "bite back."
