Malaria in Rwanda - a preventable tragedy
Under Rwanda바카라 사이트檚 national campaign against malaria, supported by UKaid some 2.7 million insecticide treated bednets were distributed last year
A disease that kills
Angelique Mukashyaka wanted to be a singer. A happy, sociable girl, she enjoyed school and sang in her church choir in the village of Masaka, Rwanda.
But at the age of 13, Angelique바카라 사이트檚 future was snatched away from her. An illness that began with a fever and headache worsened until she could not walk or even speak - she was in the grip of malaria.
Each year, some 863,000 people around the world lose their lives to malaria. Earlier this month Angelique바카라 사이트檚 mother told Andrew Mitchell - International Development Secretary - of her heartbreak as she realised she would lose her daughter to this preventable, treatable disease.
바카라 사이트淚 didn바카라 사이트檛 get a chance to say good bye바카라 사이트� said Anne-Marie, 바카라 사이트渂y the time we knew she had malaria, it was too late - she was too weak to talk바카라 사이트�.
When Angelique바카라 사이트檚 fever started, her sisters Josiane, 8 and Francine, 21, fell ill at the same time. But Anne-Marie wasn바카라 사이트檛 able to afford the 拢2 a year medical insurance she thought she needed to take them to the health centre no more than a mile from their home - so she waited to see if they would get better.
Life-saving help
After 3 days passed, Anne-Marie realised she had to get help: 바카라 사이트淚 knew they couldn바카라 사이트檛 stay at home. I was desperate. So together with neighbours, I carried the girls to the health centre and pleaded for help.바카라 사이트� The girls were seen to straight away, with blood tests confirming that all 3 were suffering from malaria.
For Josiane and Francine, the treatment provided by the health centre was life-saving. But Angelique could not be saved. 바카라 사이트淎ngelique바카라 사이트檚 story shows why we need to tackle malaria바카라 사이트� said Andrew Mitchell in a visit to Anne-Marie바카라 사이트檚 home, 바카라 사이트渋t is a tragedy that so many people continue to lose their lives to this preventable, treatable disease.바카라 사이트�
Simple and effective prevention
Since Angelique passed away, her family has received bednets so that all of the children can sleep protected from the mosquitos which carry malaria. Under Rwanda바카라 사이트檚 national campaign against malaria, supported by UKaid some 2.7 million insecticide treated bednets were distributed last year.
As well as providing protection against malaria, the national campaign is helping to provide treatment when it strikes. In all 30 districts of Rwanda, community health workers have been given the new, effective anti-malarial drugs that saved the lives of Josiane and Francine.
Speaking on his visit to Rwanda in advance of the launch of the UK바카라 사이트檚 plan to help halve malaria deaths in at least ten malaria hot spots in Africa and Asia, Andrew Mitchell said: 바카라 사이트淭ackling malaria is one of the best investments money can buy - as little as 拢2 a year can be enough to save a child바카라 사이트檚 life. People in Britain can be proud that our support is helping to save lives by providing the protection and treatment that is needed to tackle this killer disease.바카라 사이트�