Today is World Malaria Day

Today is World Malaria Day. Malaria is the number one killer in Moz. What's worse is that it is a completely treatable and even eliminate-able disease. Unfortunately, research is not keeping up with the resistant strains that are developing. This problem of resistance may be initially blamed on "patient nonadherence." From what I've observed in Moz, this is a response from those who do not know that situations of developing countries. From stock outs to hospital staff that do not speak the local language to two-day waiting lists, it is easy to see how treatment guidelines are not necessarily followed. However, is this the fault of the patient or the fault of the whole system: the health infrastructure, economics that determine which populations benefit from the industries raping Moz of natural resources, even community leaders and hospital staff that get preferential treatment? There are a number of other structural problems that contribute to a patient's hardships. So, I say it makes sense to save the doses of medicine after one starts feeling better for when one gets malaria again in a system where one does not know if the medicine is available for one's very treatable illness. With malaria medicine, a patient beings to feel better after the first day's dose.  Furthermore, I also say it makes sense for patients to use alternative forms of medicine. Of course, as a student of Anthropolgy, I refer to traditional healing methods. Now before one jumps to imagines about blood magic or weird ceremonies, I would like to point out that all of us have a dual-sense of healing. Whether we believe in herbal medicine, chi, prayer, or magic, they are all valid beliefs.  So it is important to not jump to conclusions and judge. :-) I was lucky enough to witness a traditional healer treat what I think was probably malaria. First, the healer boiled a pot of water with leaves from a certain tree. Then, layers of capulanas (long pieces of cloth that are used for almost everything - an integral part of Moz culture) are put over the healer and the patient to emerge them in the steam given off. Then, after the family members and neighbors have contributed some change to a communal pile, the capulanas are lifted one at a time while a song is sung by all. After the last capulana is lifted, the water with leaves is used to wash the patient. Also, a small portion of it is saved to make an ointment when joined with grinder sticks. That's the end of phase one. Phase two starts after the ointment is made. The healer light incense and begins to sing/chant while holding the patient's hand. She joins the patients immediate family into the hand holding. After this process continues for a bit, the healer stops and applies the ointment to the patient's face and arms. Then, the healer, family, neighbors, and patient drink the water left over from making the ointment. The patient was one of my neighbors, and I do not know if she also went to the hospital. But she was feeling normal about two days after the process. Cool right? But, back to the main point. Malaria was eliminated in the US in the 1960s (I believe - correct me if I am wrong). But, it is a number one killer in Moz, if you don't see something wrong about that, you should. Knowing about the silently dying is the first step to helping them. Hopefully, I have helped to enlighten someone! I encourage all to look at the rates of completely curable diseases in developing countries and ask, "Is the fact that people are suffering and dying of something curable right?" Hope this blog post did not come off as pessimistic or preachy. It is merely meant to inform. However, the post is filled with my personal biases. So, make your own opinions by becoming for informed. This way, we can all work for a better tomorrow for all of the people in the world, not just those lucky enough to be born into a developed country. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant. Ha.