hope



Maputo 25 April 2009 Statement By: Right Reverend Dinis Sengulane Bishop of the Diocese of Lebombo As we mark for the second Time in history the World Malaria Day, we are given an opportunity to think and act on some fact about Malaria. WHAT IS MALARIA? It is a disease transmitted by a mosquito bite which has drunk stagnant waters. It is a disease of poor countries or areas. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF MALARIA? If malaria is not treated timely it can kill within very few days; In Sub-Saharan region, a child dies every 30 seconds victim of malaria; This is the major killer in the region; The most vulnerable are pregnant women and children under five years old; The major cause of seeking health services is malaria in Sub-Sahara region; Although a disease of poor areas, globalization forces us to see this disease as a threat to all of us as we travel in malaria endemic areas. Furthermore we are “one another’s keeper”; Because many people catch malaria which debilitates the body for some days, all sectors of the society are negatively affected as people are forced to miss work or school because of the illness. WHAT IS THE RESPONSE REQUIRED? Malaria is a preventable, curable disease and it can be eliminated. On this day we are called to commit ourselves to prevent, to cure and to eliminate malaria by: praying and taking other concrete actions: Spreading the information widely concerning this disease; Eliminating stagnant waters; Providing mosquito net or finance so that people can acquire them locally and sleep every night under a mosquito net; Rushing to the health center as soon as you have the signs of malaria, such as fever, headache, lack of appetite, general weakness; To challenges scientists to invest more resources (Human, Financial and skills) to make more research concerning malaria. WHAT HAS BEEN THE ANGLICAN RESPONSE? Anglican have been praying about malaria; Trough the involvement in Roll Back Malaria it became more v dynamically vocal to share the information more widely; It is dynamically involved in Religions Initiative Against Malaria at various levels; Individual, congregations and other Anglican organizations have contributed with responsible purchase and distribution of Mosquito nets, more than 1 million nets have been distributed with measurable impacts; Our fight against malaria has led us to engage in other aspects of public health such as nutrition, sanitation and water. Hope Africa has been the Anglican Church of Southern Africa hand to respond to malaria, either internally and also with partners such as ERD. The Diocese of Washington, Connecticut, London and other partners have responded in different ways with impact in some malaria affected areas of the province and beyond. In conclusion Because it is God will to heal, because malaria is killing many people, because malaria is preventable, curable and eradicable, let us all engage in achieving these 3 steps.