AIR-CLINIC WRITING CONTEST: Mosquitoes & The African Man!

The fight against malaria is everybody's business

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There is an established link between environment and health. By statistics, of the World Health Organization (2013), the environmental risks contributes about 28 per cent of Africa's disease burden.

Diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malaria account for 60 per cent of known environmental health impacts in Africa. - (WHO, 2013)

Particularly, the African environment is highly polluted with its attendant effects on human health and this can be linked to little access to cleaner stoves, climate change, poor sanitation, inadequate water, as well as poor hygiene. Sadly, Africa lacks the capacity to deal with these growing problems.

In 2010, only 60 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa population had access to safe water; and poor waste disposal practices - (WHO, 2013)

In effect the poor African families suffer one epidemic break to the other. Such scenarios worsen in countries where human lives are not esteemed, thus allowing the people to wallow in the troubles. So sad that even when some philanthropic organizations overseas send aids to ameliorate the sufferings, some of these materials are still used in playing politics.

The problems however, would have been eased if the African man is desperate in search of knowledge. Some of them play some expensive jokes when availed with the opportunities to learn.

Mosquito is the subject of today's discussion. As we all know, mosquito is the principal causal agent of malaria as it transmits the causing organism - Plasmodium sp. The environment, climate and location of Africa among other factors, makes it prone to the breeding of mosquito, especially in the tropics.

Image 1 below shows the vulnerable parts to mosquito infestation where Africa is greatly affected (denoted by the red shading). Mosquitoes tends to be a "natural resource" in this part of the world. Not minding its role in spreading the deadly disease - malaria, mosquitoes, I believe has a part to play for the good of our ecosystem.

From the forgone, it is imperative to note that we cannot have mosquitoes go into total extinction, yet, it can be controlled if we are conscious to play our part. It is a business for everyone. I have my part to play as well as you do. We can together control it's breeding near our dwelling, but not its extermination.

Image 2 show ways in which mosquito can be be prevented from breeding near our homes and places of work. They are simple things we all can do if we are willing.

I hope you will enjoy my story below.

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Image 1

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Now the Story: MOSQUITOES & THE AFRICAN MAN!

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During a health seminar on "Combating Malaria" sponsored by Akwa Ibom State Government as supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the participants asked sarcastically:

"Since foreign philanthropic bodies such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been sending supports to us here in Nigeria through vaccines, mosquito nets and sponsorship of seminars like this; why can't they give us whatever they have been spraying in their area to totally evacuate mosquito and consequently evacuate malaria?

The question was prompted as we were told that malaria is the #1 killer disease in Nigeria and can be prevented. According to the man, he has been using mosquito nets on his bed and doors, yet, still suffered the bites of malaria. However, he admitted not changing the nets which is aged about 7 years now.

The clever facilitator seeming to digress, asked the man where he keeps his bottle caps. In response the man said:

Do I care? My children may play with them. We throw them out there!

In response, the training facilitator had this to say:

Objects as tiny as bottle caps are breeding homes for a dozens of mosquitoes. We all are careless with our environment, that is why we make the breeding of mosquitoes easy. Mosquitoes cannot thrive where sanitation and hygiene is given priority.

The facilitator added:

Mere use of mosquito net is not a guarantee to a malaria-free environment. The nets ought to be changed or re-concentrated from time to time to make it effective in killing mosquitoes. Moreover, fighting mosquitoes from its breeding hub is a most effective way to its prevention. Mosquitoes are animals which are peculiar to certain climates and geographical location just like lions, elephants, etc. They (mosquito) cannot be extincted, rather, controlled.

After such clever response, it dawn on me that the problem with the African man is lack of carefulness with little things. We joke over everything whereas the effects may be outrageous. I never had considered that bottle caps could be a breeding place for mosquitoes.

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Image 2

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End of Story
Word Count: 339

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Lessons

• The average African man thinks the use of insecticides is the best way to fight mosquitoes, whereas the sanitation of our homes is the cheapest and easiest method of preventing mosquitoes as outlined in IMAGE 2.

• Moreover, we must always be patient to read through the user manual of every item, including mosquito net. This will help us to glean the details of procedures for its usage for optimum results.

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This is an entry for the 22nd Edition of the #AIR-CLINIC Writing Contest. FOLLOW LINK HERE

JOIN THE #AIR-CLINIC DISCORD CHANNEL HERE: https://discord.gg/rqded5m

Thanks to @air-clinic for the contest.

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My Signature

When the purpose of a thing is unknown, abuse is certain. Always seek the manufacturer's manual

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Reference

World Health Organization (2013). African Environment Outlook 3 - Our Environment, Our Health

Image source: Image 1 Image 2

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UPVOTE . RESTEEM . COMMENT

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