We believe in a world of possibilities... We Believe in Making it Happen

In order to address and eliminate this endemic issue, our main target is helping families that are desperately in need of ways to tackle malaria parasite. Our primary concern is serving the best interest of women and children. For us to achieve our goal and make it possible, first we need to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds around our living surroundings in order to reduce mosquitoes population. Our first strategy is taking the community through a basic process of clearing stagnant water and clearing the long grasses and bushes that keeps mosquitoes close to their homes.
In order to reduce a high number of malaria related deaths and mosquito borne diseases, one needs to make an effort of keeping the environment and living surroundings free from mosquitoes breeding sites, because malaria is influenced by the environment we live in.
For the past 3 years we have been moving door to door imparting knowledge to women and children and meeting different families where we share with them ways of preventing,eradicating and tackling malaria.

We believe in a world of possibilities... We Believe in Making it Happen. #WeAreOntheMove #WeCanMakeItHappen #SayingNotoMalaria #MalariaKills #IStandtoFightMalaria

Between a Male and a Female mosquito which one causes Malaria?

I stand to fight malaria is a sensitization program raising awareness about malaria and measure that can be taken to eradicate this mosquito borne parasite.

Executive summary 

The project was established on May 6th 2015 by Wilfred Masea Bha-Yanho, A young filmmaker living in Nairobi, Kenya. He has been working on different projects with a couple of Video Production Companies in Kenya, until he was involved in the shooting of "Insight Malaria", A documentary project of "STOP MALARIA NOW" campaign, A network of ten NGOs from Europe and Africa, which goal is to raise public and political awareness of Malaria in Europe.

Wilfred was selected amongst the winners of the film contest "Insight Malaria" which involved 13 young filmmakers from 6 different European and African countries, and participated in developing storyboard, focusing on different aspects related to the disease and together with the other crew searched for the stories from the grassroots levels in Malindi/Kenya. During the filming of the project, he was able to realize how essential information can be to people and more especially to Kenyan people who lives in regions affected by malaria and do not have clear information about malaria, what causes malaria and how to prevent the disease. After the complete of the project on 19th September 2010, He started doing more research on malaria and looking for the best solution on ending the spread of the disease. He did a deep research for a couple of years; He later started "I STAND TO FIGHT MALARIA" A project with an aim of reaching people through The Power of Information. The project which is aimed in information, increasing effective basic skills and educational activities based on malaria prevention and eradication.

I Stand to fight malaria mission statement define our vision. Which is, creating a prosperous, and sustainable world of extreme possibilities, by implementing comprehensive elimination measures that will build a healthy generation free from epidemics.

 For the past two years we have been moving door to door imparting knowledge to women and children and meeting different families where we share with them ways of preventing and tackling malaria.

We are organizing various programs and events related to health care and prevention measure among the people living in rural and remote areas where malaria is very prevalent.

We are planning to expand our project activities, so that we are able to reach everyone in need of the information regarding malaria at any instance.

Our mission: 

Achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG’s) by 2030 through reaching malaria most affected people in marginalized and remote areas, share with them more knowledge about malaria and educate them on the prevention measures and ways of eliminating malaria. Our primary task is serving the best interest of women and children in building a better healthier society.

Project vision

Creating a prosperous, and sustainable world of extreme possibilities, by implementing comprehensive elimination measures that will build a healthy generation free from epidemics.

Action Plan

In our effort in fighting malaria, we believe and have so much hope that much can be done. The success on the battle against malaria comes largely as a result of a new approach involving a broad range of activities such as putting into consideration that there is a good reproductive health, the rights of women and children are recognized, provided for and respected. Our goal here is creating a healthy population with a real growth and a world of extreme possibilities where a child can grow to adulthood, in good health, peace and considered. Another thing is working closely with other partners, stakeholders and decision makers with the same common goal of winning the battle against diseases.

The disease kills over 800,000 people each year, mainly the most affected are women and children under five (5), although the disease is treatable, curable and a preventable, yet a child die of malaria every minute.

I Stand to Fight Malaria have taken an action by saying No to childbirth deaths, women suffering from anemia during pregnancy and children born with low birth weights as a result from malaria during pregnancy, and preventable deaths of children under the age of five (5).

We believe much can be done, the best you can give to the world is a healthy nation, and knowledge is power.  

BETWEEN A MALE AND A FEMALE MOSQUITO WHICH ONE CAUSES MALARIA?

Between a Male and a Female mosquito which one causes Malaria?

Human malaria is carried out by certain species of mosquito of the Anopheles genus. They are the only females species of mosquitoes that can transmit malaria.
Both the Male and female mosquitoes feeds on various sources of sugar such as nectar. In addition to the sugar source female anopheles mosquitoes require iron and other nutrients for the developments of their eggs. As a result she bites the human to obtain the blood. The male does not need these proteins hence they do not transfer malaria.
Through the bite, a female anopheles mosquito transmits malaria, if they have been infected through a previous blood meal taken (If its host was infected).
It is true that the female anopheles mosquitoes are the only species of mosquito that can transmit human malaria.
Birds and other reptiles can also get Plasmodium, though different species than those that infect humans and other mammals, and these kinds of malaria can also be transmitted by other kinds of mosquitoes,

Together we can win the fight against malaria.
There is hope, and our primary task here as
# IstandtofightMalaria organisation, Is to set goals on the eradication and prevention of this deadly Mosquito-borne disease. Our goal is to use the power of information to # Reach # Sensitize# Educate # Raise Awareness and # Empower communities affected by malaria on the severe consequences of the disease and most importantly, how they can # Prevent themselves from malaria transmission or getting infected by the disease.

Prevention of Malaria is not only sleeping under mosquito nets, the environment should be clean and grass and the bushes should be cut short. Stagnant waters should be cleared since they serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This are the effective measures that can be easily be put into practice and minimize the spread of malaria.

 

A MOSQUITO LIFE CYCLE
Mosquitoes are small, slender long-legged with two winged-like flies that constitute the family Culicidae. Females of most species are ectoparasites, whose tube-like mouthparts (known as proboscis) pierce the hosts' skin to consume blood. Many of us have had the unpleasant experience of being bitten by a mosquito. Mosquito bites can cause skin irritation through an allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva - this is what causes the red bump and itching. The bite of the bloodsucking female can transmit a number of extremely serious harmful infection diseases such as malaria and encephalitis.
The word “Mosquito" was formed by mosco and the shortened word -ito) is a Spanish word for "little fly". Thousands of species feed on the blood of various kinds of hosts, mainly vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even some kinds of fish. Some mosquitoes also attack invertebrates, mainly arthropods.
The length of the mosquito life cycle varies between species and is dependent upon environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture. However, the life cycle of all mosquitoes is comprised of the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages.
Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, the male does not feed on blood, while females extract the blood of its hosts in order to develop and nourish eggs. Most mosquitoes lay their eggs directly into water. Others lay their eggs near bodies of water but not within them.
Eggs will hatch into larvae within 24 to 48 hours. Larvae soon grow to become approximately 5 mm in length. Most larvae breathe through air tubes. Larger larvae can be seen floating just above the surface of infested waters. Without water the Larvae and pupae usually cannot survive. If the water source evaporates before the larvae and pupae within it transform into adult mosquitoes, those young often will die.

Within seven to 10 days, larvae enter the pupal stage. Pupae are also visible upon the surface of the breeding site. After a mosquito is fully developed, it will emerge as an adult from its pupal case. At this time, the new adult stands upon the water and dries its wings to prepare for flight. Adult female mosquitoes will then seek blood from human and other animals on to feed. Females are capable of flying for miles if necessary and can lay over 100 eggs at a time.
Larvae and pupae usually cannot survive without water so all the immature mosquitoes need still, stagnant water in which to develop (complete their larval/pupal stages in). Water quality can range from clean to very polluted and from large bodies of water to rainwater collected in tree holes, old tires, buckets, toys, potted plant trays and saucers, plastic covers or tarpaulins and even places as small as bottle caps.

What is Malaria

WHAT IS MALARIA?

What is Malaria and what are its Symptoms (Part B)

Malaria is a mosquito borne disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. Human malaria is carried out by a species of mosquito of the Anopheles genus (often referred as "malaria vector"). They are the female mosquitoes that bite from dusk to dawn and the only that transmit malaria.

Malaria parasite gets inside a human body once he/she has been bitten by an infected mosquito, if the mosquito have been infected through a previous blood meal taken (If its host was infected) This is where the life cycle of Plasmodium Falciparum begins.

The Plasmodium takes three life cycles in a human body;

Ø  The Gametocytes

Ø  The Sporozoites, and

Ø Merozoites

Gametocytes is where the mosquito get infected, inside the mosquito gut the haploids gamets busts to form a diploid zygot, which undergoes a process of multiple division called Sporogony in which many Sporozoites are produced. After a period of time following the infection, common symptoms of malaria will occur. Such symptoms include;

Ø  Profuse sweating

Ø Headache

Ø  Nausea

Ø Vomiting

Ø Diarrhea

Ø  Anemia

Ø  Muscle Pain

Ø  Convulsion

Ø  Coma or Blood Stool

The Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria is a single-celled parasite that multiplies in red blood cells of humans as well as in the mosquito intestine.

There are over 100 species of plasmodium, but only five species are known to infect humans which include;

Ø Plasmodium falciparum

Ø Plasmodium ovale

Ø Plasmodium vivax

Ø Plasmodium malariae

Ø Plasmodium knowlesi

The disease is preventable, treatable and curable. If left untreated, those with malaria may develop severe complications which disrupts blood supply to the vital organs of the body and sometimes leads to death.

Although presently there is no vaccination against malaria parasite, timely treatment of the disease is usually very successful. Early detection of malaria symptoms and getting treatment as early as possible always saves life.   

Mainly in countries that have been stricken by malaria like Kenya, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most common parasites. Plasmodium falciparum being the most deadliest and most common malarial parasite.

Factors that contribute to Malaria Transmission (Part C)

In Sub Saharan Africa, species of mosquitoes of the anopheles genus Anopheles Gambiae and Anopheles Funestus mosquito species are the main primary vectors of Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

The largest number of malaria transmission in Kenya and other part of Africa where the disease is prevalent, the patterns of vector changes significantly due to several aspects, and this is sometimes influenced by compositions of vectors, Mosquitoes competence, latent statistical data and ecofactors.

Normally high intensity of malaria transmission occur where both Anopheles gambiae sensu lato and Anopheles funestus are present, as they tend to exploit different breeding habitats and peak at different times, thereby prolonging the transmission period. Mainly during the wet season Anopheles gambiae are the most abundant, while Anopheles funestus are predominant at the end of the rains and beginning of the dry season.  

The environment also plays a bigger role in determining the intensity of transmission. In many parts of the world, transmission of malaria is seasonal - highest during and just after the rainy season, mainly when rainfall is heavy, temperatures are high, and the air is humid.

Another factor that plays a major role is the altitude, limiting malaria in the tropical highlands by negatively influencing the development of vector species. In the Kenyan highlands, research shows high densities of An. gambiae mosquitoes in a town 1,650 m above sea level and still more at altitudes higher than 2,000 m.

Other factors contributing to the spread of malaria are the natural and human associated activities that create fertile vector’s breeding grounds. The main key determinants of malaria transmission factors includes;

Ø  Swampy areas, rivers and lakes which provides suitable breeding grounds for mosquitoes

Ø  Agriculture in both urbanized, and rural areas. Normally this is when watering the plants and during wet seasons, the soil tends to collect stagnant water that provides an optimal condition for mosquito’s to breed.

Other potential vector breeding sites are;

Ø Streams, Dams and Ponds   

Ø Tree holes and Seepages

Ø Drains/gutters, springs and Ditches  

Ø Domestic plastic containers due to improper waste disposal and Water tanks/reservoirs

Ø Construction sites and Swimming pools

Ø Canal, Foundations and unsecured water tanks

Ø Car Tyres, Pipes and Bathtubs

 

There are several other factors that influence the intensity of malaria in Kenya, although stagnant water provides excellent aquatic conditions for mosquitoes to breed.  

Plasmodium parasite which is more endemic in the tropical areas, is transmitted through a bite of an Anopheles mosquito, her saliva often causes an irritating rash that is a serious nuisance. The vector breeds in water, but then all different species of anopheles have their own different, unique and specific preferences that will allow them to breed more rapidly and efficiently. For instance, some prefer shallow collections of water such as water collected on domestic plastic containers, swimming pools, water tanks, Seasonal swamps, ponds with shallow depth, or agricultural fields.

Globally 300 to 500 million cases of malaria are recorded yearly, with more than 440,000 deaths from Anopheles mosquito. The transmission of malaria is more intense during and just after the rainy season, when rainfall is heavy, temperatures are high, and the air is humid, the mosquito lifespan is longer, and also the parasite has time to become completely developed in the mosquito. Although in some parts of the world malaria transmission is only seasonal.

Immunity on human to malaria increases with age, for adults in populations that are at high risk for malaria infection, many of them earn partial immunity after being exposed to the parasite for years, which does not offer complete protection from the disease but does provide some immunity. This is the reason why malaria mainly affects small children in endemic regions. Although in low-risk regions where little to now immunity is formed, everyone is at an equal risk.

What is Malaria

WHAT IS MALARIA?

Malaria is a mosquito borne disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. Human malaria is carried out by a species of mosquito of the Anopheles genus. They are the female mosquitoes that bites from dusk to dawn,and the only that transmit malaria.