Ghana Mission 2009, Trip Report #5

Mosquito Nets

The day started like an ordinary day until the message “the mosquito nets are here" started spreading like wild fire throughout the village. Nothing but the nets helps prevent the spread of the deadly malaria that is responsible for most of the illnesses and high infant mortality in this part of the world.

The crowd gathered under this beautiful tree to receive a life-saving net. About 260 nets were distributed to pregnant women and parents with young children. The distribution was well planned ahead so that the distributor with the list of recipient names simply went down the list and gave out the nets one-by-one.  This well-organized system lasted for about 15 minutes and then chaos broke out. The intensity of emotions that builds up in the few moments of waiting for a mosquito net cannot be described or understood by anyone other than a person who desperately needs a mosquito net to save the life of her child.  Scarcity and poverty are as deadly as the mosquito that spreads that killer-malaria.
 

     

 Malaria Worldwide

  • 300-500 million people contract malaria annually
  • One million people die each year from malaria
  • Every 30 seconds someone dies from malaria

Malaria in Africa

  • 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa
  • 1 in 5 childhood deaths are caused by malaria
  • Malaria is responsible for a 1.3% growth penalty per year in some African countries, due to loss in productivity
  • Malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion in lost GDP every year

Source: Roll Back Malaria, President’s Malaria Initiative, The World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Send a Net. Save a Life:   Are we in the life-saving business?  Is God using us as agents of healing? Are we ambassadors of hope?  Are we demonstrating and sharing God’s love?  As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear evil for the Grace and Love of God is always abundant for all of us and especially for the people of Awombrew.

To the women of Woodbury UMC who donating $1000 worth of mosquito nets to help prevent malaria and save life, we say THANK GOD FOR YOUR COMPASSIONATE LOVE.