Contest: Leaving no room for Malaria

Edited with my phone and

Malaria is one of those diseases that is very common in Nigeria. The disease affects both children and adults. I understand that malaria is caused by parasites. I also understand as a student of history that, in the time past, malaria had no cure. That it was a very dangerous disease that killed dozens of people, especially the whites who came to Africa either as explorers or missionaries.

The commonest and known way people get infected by malaria is through mosquito bites and drinking contaminated water.

Ways to stop malaria are:

1. Keep your environment clean and also do away with stagnated water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

2. Our house's windows and doors should be sealed with nets to prevent mosquitoes from entering into the house.

3. We should always boil our water before drinking if we can't afford good table water, as the source of our water, if not clean, can also cause malaria too.

4. Use a water filter or purifier to purify our drinking water sources

5. The use of mosquito nets should be encouraged.

_{Mosquitoes net in my children's room}

Some common signs of malaria are:

• Fever

• Headache

• Aches on the body

• Body weakness and fatigue

• Frequent sleeping

• Soar throat etc.

Malaria affects our communities mostly during the rainy seasons such as we are now in Nigeria, because of frequent rain. So, this rain builds stagnant water which is usually a breeding ground for mosquitoes to grow.

_{A typical stagnated water mosquitoes are bred}

Mosquitoes are linked to malaria because they spread the parasite that causes malaria. That's why, whenever malaria is mentioned, mosquitoes will be the next, knowing the insects are a contributor to the disease.

• Mosquitoes can be prevented through the use of insecticide

• Possibly, one can fumigate his/her environment to get rid of the mosquitoes and other insects/pests.

• Thorough cleaning should always be carried out to clear bushes around our environment to prevent mosquitoes from inhabiting the area.

I thank God for the discovery and production of antimalarial medicines. Though, Africans also have their orthodox medicines which were and are still in use in the treatment of malaria. The issue is that most people have really not paid attention to treating malaria with orthodox medicines any more. They prefer scientific medical treatment due to the fact that its procedures and consumption are easier than the orthodox medicine.

_{A typical leaves used for treating malaria}

It's quite disheartening these days that the English medicines are less effective in the treatment of malaria than they used to be in the past. And they're also more expensive than they were before.

Nevertheless, I think that environmental factors like an unkept and dirty environment, and drinking of untreated and contaminated water are reasons why getting rid of the disease is difficult.

I'm inviting @realitytrend @impersonal @entity01