Man, Mosquito & Malaria
“Those mosquitoes…always bothering…their irritating buzz in ears…the itching bites they give…those sleepless nights they gift us…and then there is Dengue, Yellow Fever and of course…MALARIA…Why do they exist…Any answers to this?”
Have you had such thought for once? Sure, you must have had for more than once. Yes, mosquitoes are a nuisance. They are responsible for causing various infectious diseases – the most common and dangerous one being Malaria. References for “Deadly Fevers” – probably malaria, can be found in the Vedic writings of 1600 B.C in India. Charaka and Sushrutha gave descriptions of malaria, and also, associated it with mosquito bites. Malaria was also referred by Hippocrates some 2500 years ago.
Commonly known as “Ague” in the ancient times – Malaria has been one of the most devastating parasitic diseases. Malaria kills more than 1 million people and affects up to 500 million people every year. Children below 5 years of age and pregnant women are most susceptible to malaria. But the good news is that this deadly disease, which spreads through the bite of infected anopheles mosquitoes, is preventable and treatable.
The first World Malaria Day was celebrated on 25th April 2008. Initially it started as the Africa Malaria Day, which was observed every year on the 25th April since 2001 by African government to fight against malaria and to meet the United Nations Malaria-Related Millennium Development Goals. But it is not just the African continent which is affected by malaria. Several places in the world – Asia, Latin America and some parts of Europe – are widely hit by malaria. And hence, a greater awareness was required. Therefore, in March 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the World Malaria Day to be observed on 25th April every year to raise awareness and understanding of malaria. There is a hope that participation of all communities across the world will help in fighting this disease and saving many lives.
The discovery of Quinine, a toxic plant alkaloid made from the bark of the Cinchona, followed by the development of its synthetic analogues – all have helped in fighting malaria. But it is well said – Prevention Is Better Than Cure. And therefore, from the prevention of the breeding of mosquitoes to the use of insect repellents and bed nets to the intake of appropriate medicinal prophylaxis and treatment – all together will save many of us from falling prey to this fatal disease. It is very important for us to understand and to take the necessary precautions to save ourselves, our community and our country from ill effects of this life threatening infectious disease.
Get Updated To Get Malaria Eradicated!
Stay Stress Free
It is known that physical disorders can affect a person’s mental health. But it also stands true for the vice versa. Psychological states like depression and stress can lead to poor health state. This will reduce your confidence in managing problems, and hence, affect your productivity.
Today our lives run at super speed. Twenty four hours of a day are not sufficient to complete our errands. Today’s work left is an added work for tomorrow. All these give you nothing but mental anxiety. This mental stress can also put you into addictive habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, increased caffeine intake or overeating. These addictions will further add to your health worries. All this will ultimately drain you, and will affect both your health and work.
It is rightly said that stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness. So, why accept it and make yourself ill? Why become a slave of your own demands? Why suffer when you can do the same work with relaxed mind with the help of a little planning? Work can not be delayed and all demands have to be met. Life has to keep going on, and to keep it running this way you will have to keep your body engine perfectly energetic.
Stress is an every day word today. You are stressed, your spouse is stressed, your kids are stressed, your parents are stressed… all and everyone can get stressed out. There is no age limit to get stressed. But yes, there are solutions to keep yourself and your beloved away from stress. Click on to learn more.
Health Is Wealth! So, Treasure This Wealth!
‘A stitch in time saves nine.’ This proverb just doesn’t stand right for a torn fabric but can also stand for your health status. If taken appropriate care and measures, you can save your self from numerous diseases. Therefore, to take suitable measures on right time is very essential.
In the fast-paced and stress-filled lives that we lead today, it is important to know how healthy and fit one is. Every year on the occasion of the New Year you make resolutions – to quit smoking, to exercise, to stop drinking, to eat right, to get in shape and many more. But as the year advances these resolutions fade away and then you recall them on the next New Year’s Eve. But the World Health Day gives you a reminder and you can still revise your resolution for the same year rather than pushing it on to the next year slot.
Way back in 1948, the First World Health Assembly called for the start of the ‘World Health Day’ to mark the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO). The trend of celebrating 7th of April as the World Health Day every year is dated back to 1950. Each year a theme is selected for the World Health Day that focuses on public health issues that affect the international community. The long term programs launched on the World Health Day continue beyond the day itself and serve as an opportunity to focus on these important aspects of global health.
Over the past 50 years, the WHO has focused on several important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, climate change, road safety, international health security, and accordingly made themes to implement these issues. The theme for 2009 is ‘Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies.’ This year the World Health Day aims at the safety of the health care facilities (hospitals, equipments, transport facilities, life saving measures emergency departments), and reliability of the health care professionals (adequate staffing, emergency management training) during disasters and calamities.
So, this year on the World Health Day take the pledge for
Living a better life…
Living a healthy life…
Living a safe life…
Living in a safe environment…
And the pledge for making this World secure for yourself and for the generations to come ahead!
