Mosquitoes Suck!

Every year, 781,00 people die of a disease that is 100% preventable and treatable. Children under the age of five are the hardest hit. Not only does this disease cause a horrible physical toll, it costs the country of Africa $12 billion every year in lost productivity. This mosquito-borne malady was wiped out in the United States 60 years ago. Want to know what it is?

Imagine No Malaria is working tirelessly to see that every family in Africa has the tools they need to prevent, diagnose and treat this disease. This group wants to eradicate malaria in Africa by 2015. The World Health Organization's 2010 World Malaria Report showed incredible progress in the fight against malaria. Deaths from this disease are down 10% from last year. Because of groups like Imagine No Malaria and Malaria No More, awareness and contributions are up.

How do you make malaria a thing of the past, all over the world? Make insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets cheap or free and available to everyone. Educate families, communities and African governments about prevention and treatment and partner with them to get the word out. Encourage scientists to accelerate research on finding a malaria vaccine. Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys. Spraying the inside walls of homes and buildings with insecticide is an important strategy.

Lots of celebrities are getting involved: George Clooney, Bill & Melinda Gates, Conan O'Brien, Sarah Silverman, Jeff Probst, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Orlando Bloom, Diana Krall and Pauley Perrette. A tweet from Ashton Kutcher that turned into the "Most Re-Tweeted Message" on World Malaria Day 2009 is helping to provide 89,724 mosquito nets in Senegal.

What can you do to help?

*Give to Imagine No Malaria and find out more about the cause (www.imaginenomalaria.org)
*Follow them on Twitter (Twitter:NoMalaria)
*"Like" them on Facebook (Imagine No Malaria)
*Buy a "Mosquitoes Suck!" t-shirt. They're just $19.95 at the MNM (Malaria No More) store.
*Blog about it (like I did!)
*World Malaria Day is Monday, April 25, 2011. Host or attend an event.
*The United Methodist Church supports "Imagine No Malaria" (http://www.imaginenomalaria.org). Ask about it at church, or check it out at www.umc.org. They have great resources!
*Pray that not one more child will die needlessly of this preventable disease.

Matthew 18:1-6 (KJV)
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

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Female in Motion Exercise Update: I only did two aerobic workouts this week. Crazy busy trying to catch up on work, plus a revival at church. I didn't gain any weight on my trip to Savannah, though. I got plenty of exercise walking around that gorgeous town!

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Notable Quote:

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"--Martin Luther King, Jr.