SAY WORLDNO TO MALARIA SUICIDE DAY 2022
L Athat need medication • Past traumatic experiences Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD Drugs or alcohol misuse Bullying Inferiority complex
Lack of access to basic needs
Child abuse within the household over a long period
Peer pressure, etc.
My mum likes to probe on me every time she sees me looking low or sad. She asks me questions like, “How was your day? How was work? What did you do? How are your friends? How is school going?”
For me, it’s basic conversation and I’m wondering why she can’t just give me space so need that for I can innovation be upset of or more sad in measures peace but and there strategies is peace in to having be put mere in place conversation. to prevent
people What’s from sad is having not being Malaria. able to What realise is Malaria? that the Malaria people is a closest febrile to (fever) you care illness about caused you and by Plasmodium are trying to parasites help you. that are It transmitted begins with to parents humans unby mosquito bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitos. It is a parasitic illness spread by mosquitos. Once bitten by a mosquito, you may experience fever, chills, and a flu-like which are common symptoms of Malaria. This is a disease that can cause sickness and develop into serious problems which may lead to death, if not addressed.
AST week during “A Childhood Trauma” I asked, M I the “Have only you one who noticed the experiences increasing a rate buzzof • suicide cases?” ing sound the min
Well, ute this I turn is off very my light sad. • Zambia to sleep? is There well times known when to • be you a are peaceful so tired country and you with just • peaceful want to have people. a peaceful Over sleep the • years but that we little have irritating had low insect cases with of a suicide loud sound but will the not sudlet • den you. I rise used in to these clap every cases now has caused and then alarm with in the the aim country. to kill
(obviously) Like every but other I realized living beit • ing, wasn’t we worth all go it. through I was hurting problems my own that hands lead for to free. unusual behaviour. Suicide is a seri
I figured, you know what? ous public health problem
Let me buy a zapper (that tool that affects all ages. with electricity used to elec
CDC defines suicide as trify insects, zapper right?). death caused by injuring
My life became a little better oneself with the intent to die.
when going to sleep. All I had A suicide attempt is when
to do was charge the tool, someone harms themselves
switch it on and zap those litwith any intent to end their
tle bullies. It was war for me. life, but they do not die as a
Jumping up and down my result of their actions. room just to make sure they
There are many factors are all dead then go to bed yet that contribute to this dead
still one strongman will rise ly issue. Some of the factors
halfway through my sleep. But include but are not limited
then again I realized it was to:
still exhausting. At this point,
• Mental health problems I knew I needed someone’s expertise in mosquitoes because I was not about to get malaria all over again. Anyways.
Yesterday, we celebrated World Malaria Day under the theme “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.” It is believed that there is no single tool available today that will address the malaria problem. This means that there is derstanding their children. Looking back at every time she checks on me, I realised the necessity of having a good relationship with parents.
It starts from here parents. Talk to your children. Know your children and get involved. It is as simple as asking how their day went. Understand your child and learn their life cycle.
Your child could be bullied every single day at school and you would never know because you don't have a decent conversation with them.
Allow your children to tell you stories about their everyday environment (school, home, church, work, etc.) and build a relationship that's sustainable. When things Malaria aren't continues okay with to your have a child, devastating you will impact know. It on starts the health from the and livelihood relationship of peobeple tween around parents the and world. children. In 2020, How do 241 you million relate new with cases your of child? malaria were projected in 85 Everyone countries, talks with about 627 what 000 malaria-related happens before deaths. “the In act” the WHO African Region (Zambia inclusive), children under the age of five accounted for more than two-thirds of all fatalities. Infants, children under the age of five, pregnant women, and HIV/AIDS patients, as well as people with low immunity moving to areas with high malaria transmission, such as migrant workers, mobile populations, and travelers, are but let's also talk about what happens after. Does anyone talk about how much damage is caused after the person has attempted to injure or successfully killed themselves? The burden that is left upon family and friends is heavy. It’s an unselfish act that needs to be stopped.
Nobody plans for funerals and nobody enjoys funerals. The trauma left behind with family and friends that are supposed to be your support is devastating.
You are loved and cared for by many. You have support right next to you. There are many people who can help you anywhere and everywhere (if they cannot, they will guide you to the right people or places).
If you still feel you cannot at talk a significantly to anyone higher within risk your of contracting circle, you malaria can always and deget veloping help from severe counsellors. disease. The positive Imagine part starting about Malaria a stois that ry about it is typically how preventable. everything
is The going use wrong of preventative in your anlife timalarial and discovering medications the person and effective that you vector are control telling has is had goa significant influence on decreasing the worldwide burden of this illness. Since vector management is successful at avoiding infection and limiting disease transmission, it is an important part of malaria control and eradication methods. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) are the two main interventions used.
The interventions that have been put in place already are effective for one to be protected. As a country, we owe it to ourselves to adhere to some of the measures such as sleeping under a well-treated mosqui
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is considered as an intervention for preventive chemotherapy. This is basically the use of medicines to prevent malaria infections. Malaria can be reduced via early identification and treatment, which decreases sickness, avoids fatalities, and helps to reduce transmission. In malaria-endemic countries such as Zambia, medication effectiveness must be assessed on a frequent basis to inform treatment decisions and ensure early detection and response to drug resistance.
Malaria elimination is defined as the purposeful stopping of local transmission of You a are certain loved and malaria cared for parasite by many. You have support right next to you. species in a specific geographical area. Continuing
ing through the exact same precautions to prevent trans
phase or has experienced mission re-establishment are
what you are going through? essential. Eliminating ma
They probably have the laria is the global goal hence
answers to how they dealt SDG goal number 3.3 high
with it. What a relief, right? lights reducing malaria case
Suicide is real and it is hapincidence by at least 90% by
pening in our country. We 2030, reducing malaria mor
can preserve more lives betality rates by at least 90% by 2030, eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030 and preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free. This is why surveillance is very important. Strong malaria monitoring systems help governments create effective health treatments and evaluate the efficacy of their malaria control efforts.
Malaria continues to have a devastating impact on the health and livelihood of people around the world.
cause every life is important. Let’s end suicide together by talking about it.
Remember a problem shared is a problem solved. Go to your nearest health fato net. Protect yourself and
cility for help or call Lifeline those around you by doing the
Childline Zambia on Childright thing. If you have any of
line 116 or Lifeline 933. the malaria symptoms, go to your nearest health facility. Don’t assume. Don’t diagnose yourself. Go and check yourself from the health facility and further assistance will be rendered to you. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
The cold season is upon us and we know what this means. Follow the five Golden rules and protect yourself. Stay safe and alert.