April 24th, 2015 by Rachel | Tags: Disability, Peace Corps | No Comments »
When Cameroon does a massive mosquito net distribution, they give children under 5 years old and pregnant women the priority to have mosquito nets. This is because children under 5 years old have not yet built their immunity against malaria and pregnant women face the risk of miscarriage when being ill with malaria. Moreover, the government provides free consultation for malaria to children under 5 years old. I strongly believe that persons with disability should be counted as the most vulnerable population along with children under 5 years old and pregnant women when it becomes to preventing malaria and being ill with it.
Malaria is a parasite transmitted by mosquitos that causes illnesses. Symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue, muscular pain, chills, sweating, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, malaria can cause mini-stroke, abnormal behavior, coma and death.
Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium. Each female anopheles, a type of mosquito, has a vector that carries the parasite. When a female anopheles carrying the parasite Plasmodium bites a person, the person becomes ill with malaria. Then when a female anopheles without the parasite Plasmodium bites a person who is ill with malaria, this female anopheles then gets the parasite Plasmodium. Then this female anopheles with the parasite Plasmodium can go bite another healthy person who would then become sick with malaria. The cycle repeats. Female anopheles bite only during the night time, typically around between 8 PM and 6 AM in the morning. This is why sleeping under the mosquito net is important.
When if a person with disability become ill with malaria, most are unable to go to a health clinic. We have to keep in mind that 95% of persons with disability are the poorest of the poor. This means that because they are facing severe financial hardship, they are unable to afford to see a doctor to find out if they have malaria and purchase a medication to treat malaria. Moreover, they do not have the financial means to pay for transportation to a health clinic. Even if they did have some money to go to a health clinic, many are unable to get a transportation because many taxi and bike drivers deny them access as they are too impatient to assist persons with disability in getting in the car or on the bike. Even if they don’t deny them access, many will charge a higher price.
So, when persons with disability do not consult a doctor and get a medication, they face the risk of becoming sicker and gaining a permanent damage to their body which means an additional disability. They could even face the risk of dying.
I want to implore the government and also organizations to give an extra attention to persons with disability along with children under 5 and pregnant women as they do truly face greater challenges and risks when they become ill with malaria.
