Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Because it is not indigenous to the United States, many Americans are not familiar with the causes and effects of this disease. Nevertheless, a pandemic continues to rage across the globe, further taxing already beleaguered healthcare systems in developing countries.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the United Nations headquarters in New York, where a new multimedia exhibit sponsored by the Malaria Consortium highlights personal stories of both malaria sufferers and experts studying the disease, focusing on strategies to treat and eliminate malaria where it is most devastating.
Aiming to raise awareness surrounding malaria leading up to World Malaria day on April 25, “Malaria: Blood, Sweat and Tears” is based on photographs taken by Adam Nadel in Cambodia, Nigeria, and Uganda. The exhibit constructs a narrative of personal stories and a scientific history, highlighting new advances toward malaria’s mitigation, especially in Africa, where the mortality rate of infected individuals has been reduced by nearly 50 percent.
An estimated 250 million people are infected with malaria each year, and nearly one million die. The toll of the disease is most notable in Sub-Saharan Africa, where between two and four percent of individuals are infected, and where the mortality rate climbs even higher due to a substantial number of co-infections with HIV/AIDS.
It is important that people around the world-especially in the United States-stay abreast of the state of infectious diseases in the developing world, as it is within our reach to help treat these highly preventable conditions. We encourage you to continue to learn about malaria, its effects and treatments, and invite you to explore a digital edition of Nadel’s exhibit online at http://www.malaria-bloodsweatandtears.com/.
Brennan Gamwell