LNRCS Engages In Cleaning The Environment, House-To-House Awareness Raising And Distributing Hundreds Of Mosquito Nets To Communities
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
The Liberian Red Cross, in solidarity with global initiatives, is commemorating World Malaria Day this Thursday, April 25, by leading a call to action against the prevalent disease.
World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. It was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007.
It’s celebrated every year on April 25. This year’s global theme is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”.
A Red Cross release notes that, recognizing malaria as a significant public health challenge, particularly in countries like Liberia where transmission rates are high, the Red Cross underscores the urgent need for practical interventions to combat this killer disease.
The release adds that, the statistics from the Red Cross Clinic reveal a surge in malaria cases received in the first quarter of 2024, echoing findings from the Country Malaria Profile, which identifies malaria as the leading cause of attendance in outpatient departments and the primary cause of inpatient deaths in Liberia.
“The burden of malaria excessively affects vulnerable populations, particularly children and pregnant women,” stated the Red Cross Secretary General Gregory,” Mr. Blamoh explained.
He added: “As we commemorate World Malaria Day under the theme ‘Health Equity, Gender, and Human Rights,’ we emphasize the need to address malaria within the broader framework of health equity and human rights. Access to preventive measures such as mosquito nets remains limited in many communities, perpetuating the cycle of transmission. We must take concerted action to bridge these gaps and ensure equitable access to malaria prevention and control measures.”
As part of the World Malaria Day celebrations, the Liberian Red Cross volunteers were involved with environmental cleaning and house-to-house awareness raising and distribution of 300 mosquito nets in two communities in the Owensgrove, Grand Bassa County and Peace Island in Congo Town and Soup Tree Community in Dixville, Montserrado county, the April 24, 2024 release under the signatures of its Director of Communication Oniel Bestman disclosed.
“We must act together to fight malaria and save the lives of pregnant women and children under five who are vulnerable to the disease,” emphasized the Red Cross Secretary-General. “Health and well-being remain a top priority for the Red Cross, and on this occasion, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against malaria. We call on the global community to increase attention and allocate more resources to frontline organizations involved in malaria prevention and control.”
Currently, the Liberian Red Cross is working with Plan International Liberia for the provision of over 2,700 pieces of nets under the 2024 mass distribution of insecticide-treated Treated Nets in both River Gee and Grand Kru Counties.
The LNRCS with support from the Embassy of Sweden will also distribute 800 pieces of nets in 12 communities in Sinoe, River Gee, and Grand Kru as part of its Green Inclusive and Resilient Liberia (GIRL) Project.
The LNRCS calls on all stakeholders, including government agencies, community leaders, and international partners, to join hands in the collective effort to combat malaria and promote health equity, gender equality, and human rights.
The Liberian Red Cross is a humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities across Liberia. Through its various programs and initiatives, the Red Cross strives to alleviate human suffering, promote health and well-being, and build resilience in the face of emergencies and disasters.
According to a World Health Organization data, globally in 2022, there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria deaths in 85 countries.
The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden.
In 2022, the Region was home to 94% of malaria cases (233 million) and 95% (580,000) of malaria deaths. Children under 5 accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region, WHO data also added.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable. The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person.
Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening. Mild symptoms are fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection.
Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines. Treatments can stop mild cases from getting worse.