Fighting Malaria, One Net at A Time

There’s a common problem in GFA pastor Kagan’s area, one he is all too familiar with. Born and raised in the region where he now serves, Pastor Kagan knows the effects of malaria from personal experience, and he sees many others suffer from it, too. Whenever it appears, it often brings debilitation and anguish—and sometimes death.

The Constant Threat

The community Pastor Kagan serves suffers from mosquito-borne malaria year round. In the height of summer and after the rainy season, fevers indicative of malaria are especially common. Those villagers who can afford treatment make their way to the nearest private hospital. But, according to Pastor Kagan, around 75 percent of the community cannot afford to pay for quality medical care.

The easiest option available is a small, local medical center. Unfortunately, while the care available at this clinic is free, the medicines are often not very effective at treating malaria. The only thing people can do is endure the illness and assuage the pain with natural remedies found in the surrounding jungle.

Most of the time, the villagers do not test for malaria—rather, they cannot test. But every year, the symptoms are the same: High fever, constant shivering, severe body aches.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY ON GFA.ORG

Millions of families in Africa and Asia are still at risk from mosquito-borne diseases, but you can help change that. By providing mosquito nets, you can help protect families from malaria and other devastating diseases.