“Watching a small child die from malaria is a horrific experience.  First come the headache, tiredness, weakness in the joints and general malaise, followed by a very high fever.  Then the fever’s effect on the brain causes the child’s muscles to jerk, just before the end.”   ~Tom Gillem, Interpreter Jul/Aug 2009.

Our church has the opportunity to change this image and help eliminate deaths from malaria.  Through Imagine No Malaria, we can save thousands of lives. “It is possible to give without loving,” said John Wesley, “but it is impossible to love without giving.” Imagine No Malaria is our opportunity to respond to our calling—to show our love through our generous gifts.

 Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of The people of The United Methodist Church to raise $75 million to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by 2015. This comprehensive approach to beating malaria will engage the passion of 11.5 million United Methodists worldwide will empower an entire continent to achieve a sustainable victory over malaria through prevention, education, communication and treatment.

Consider these facts about malaria:

 Fact: Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite, spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. If not treated promptly with effective medicines, malaria often is fatal

Fact: Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies of malaria; that’s 3,000 young lives every day. Fact: Malaria kills more than one million people each year. Ninety percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fact: Malaria is a completely preventable and treatable disease.

Fact: Prior to 1951, Malaria was a serious public health problem in the United States. An comprehensive effort from 1947-1951 virtually eradicated malaria in this country.

Fact: Malaria is a disease of poverty. It severely impacts those who cannot afford treatment or have limited access to healthcare, leading to a detrimental effect on attendance at workplaces and schools.

Fact: Malaria rates in parts of Africa are on the decline: after increasing net coverage and access to medication, the under-five mortality rate in Rwanda dropped by 66% in two years. In Eritrea, the overall morbidity rate decreased by 80% in just four years using similar methods. 

In the past We have embraced the message “Send a Net, Save a Life” through Nothing But  Nets. Now in addition to nets for prevention, we are called to strengthen the infrastructure of malaria treatment and prevention to ensure the greatest impact of this effort.  We will revitalize hospitals and health-care clinics that treat malaria and distribute medication.  We will support and train additional community health-care workers who educate communities about proper net usage and other simple ways to prevent malaria.  We will build communications networks to spread health information. 

On Sunday, March 6, join us and help our church reach our goal to save 100 lives by raising $1000.   Just $10 will save one life. Incredible isn’t?