For many years, malaria was treated in Kenya by Chloroquine,
which reduced significantly the spread of the disease. However, the parasite
that causes the disease eventually developed a resistance to this medication.
Largely because of this resistance, there was a re-emergence of malaria in the
1980’s.
Unfortunately, this emergence came about the same time that other health epidemics arose in Africa, epidemics such as HIV-AIDS, Zika and Ebola. This has all put a large strain on the already fragile health care system of Africa, which has reportedly been decreasing in quality in the past 25 years.
Unfortunately, this emergence came about the same time that other health epidemics arose in Africa, epidemics such as HIV-AIDS, Zika and Ebola. This has all put a large strain on the already fragile health care system of Africa, which has reportedly been decreasing in quality in the past 25 years.
I asked Pastor Joel what drugs are now used by doctors to
cure the malaria, and he sent me an extensive list of different ones that they
try: Artemether/Lumefantrine, Coartem, Malarone, Plaquenil, Doxycycline, Mefloquine…25
in all. Nothing works great, but they at least give the doctors a choice of
options to try, that is, if the drugs are available.
There are also several drugs that can be taken as prophylactics,
or prevention medications, but they do not actually prevent malaria from
beginning in the body. Once the person has been infected, in the initial stage
of malaria, it first affects the liver. It is from the liver that it eventually
spreads to the blood stream. At least this is my understanding.
The parasite reaches the liver through the blood by an
infected mosquito bite, but then goes through part of its development in the
liver. It is only when it reaches the “erythrocytic stage,” or the blood stage,
were these “prevention drugs” have any effect at all.
Malaria cases have been very high in Kisii this year in
particular because of the historically heavy rains. Beyond the human suffering,
and speaking on merely a pragmatic level, it has been a huge drain on the
funding for the orphans. In addition to the challenges caused by the prices for
many vegetables doubling their former levels, and the other problems brought on
by the rain, Pastor Joel and the church leadership have had to spend a lot of
money on malaria prevention and treatment for the orphans.
Hospital stays have been the most costly, but they have also
bought some prevention drugs and mosquito nets to help protect the
orphans
while they sleep. I have never visited the hospital where they bring the sick
orphans, but they have sent me so many photos that I almost feel like I have
been there.


Interestingly enough, another prevention against malaria has
simply been buying clothing for the children who had none.
The new dormitory of the orphans would also be an important
prevention for this problem (along with other problems), and that is why I am praying
that we can get it built before next rain season. I appreciate your prayers
also in this.
We pray that our God in heaven will bless His children with this gift.
We pray that our God in heaven will bless His children with this gift.
I have spoken before of the great needs at the orphanage.
They are not unique needs, I know. Many in the world live in similar
situations. But for reasons that I do not
know, these are the children that the Lord has given to me. Perhaps there are
others who will join with me in this task in helping these children.
When I look at this situation with a realistic eye, it seems
undoable. I have mentioned on several
occasions that this task is so great that it is actually beyond any resources that
I can image. It will take even the lunch of a boy to meet these needs.
By this I mean at the feeding of the 5000, the need to feed
the people was so great that the disciples could see no way possible. But there
was a boy there, a young lad, with a humble lunch of five small loaves of bread
and two fish. These he gave to Jesus. Jesus blessed the food and began giving it
to the disciples to distribute to the people sitting on the ground. All ate
until all were satisfied.
This is what we need. We need the blessing of Jesus on this
work.
We also need to pray that the children be protected from additional
peripheral problems, like malaria and other illnesses. If you do not mind the
graphic illustration, but these illnesses drain the resources from the children
like diarrhea drains the energy from their small bodies.
We pray to Jesus for his blessing and protection.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.