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Mar 30, 2007

mosquitoes flying in attack formation
Sometime or other, while entering the PCH contest, I must have ordered a subscription to Woman's Day magazine, which basically is a collection of advertisements for prescription meds that control your bladder, and other things I have no interest in at this time. But tucked away among the ads you will find a few articles here and there. One that caught my eye was about George and Laura Bush, and their growing concern over malaria in Africa.*
“The toll of malaria is even more tragic because the disease itself is highly treatable and preventable. Yet this is also our opportunity, because we know that large-scale action can defeat this disease in whole regions. And the world must take that action. Next week at the G-8, I will urge developed countries and private foundations to join in a broad, aggressive campaign to cut the mortality rate for malaria across African in half.”
-- President George W. Bush June 30, 2005



"Each and every one of us has the responsibility to stop the suffering caused by malaria -- because every life, in every land, matters." Laura Bush

One of the biggest things they are doing is providing mosquito nets for families and people at risk. And medications, for those who are already infected.

Now, for this to work, we must assume that the people most likely to be affected by this malaria epidemic have access to, 1. homes, 2. beds in said homes, 3. and no other immediate concerns like fighting an aids, acess to food, water, and safety.

I understand that malaria is a horrible recurring disease, and it can be dangerous, especially to pregnant women. But some of the problems facing African nations are a little more immediate. Such as having access to food, water, housing, fighting an aids epidemic, and safety.

Why they chose malaria as their particular cause, seems somewhat bizarre. I guess the first issue I would address is the growing number of households that are run by the oldest child left after the parents have succumbed to aids. Or people who do not have any food. Or doing something more about the aids epidemic which is of major proportions. But the food and water thing seems to come first in my mind. People without food and water usually don't live long enough to get malaria.

Yes, I know, corrupt governments make it extremely difficult to get the necessary supplies, such as food, to those that need it. But, we could always look for weapons of mass destruction, and find them, sort of, or pretend we did, and go over and hang the corrupt politicians. I mean, its not like we haven't done it before. I think George and Laura could probably do this without using troops. Just send all of the republicans over there, give them a to do list, and make sure it gets done. They could always increase the amount of republicans if they have to.

Once this is completed, we could then send missionaries who would solve the aids issue by telling them to just say no. Oh, wait, that was Nancy Reagan's big thing, and look how well that turned out.

So, tell me, am I not taking this seriously enough? Am I not seeing the whole picture here? And just sitting here thinking, I realized that Iraq is not that far from Africa. Just a hop, skip, and a jump, actually. I had thought it was part of Africa, but its actually listed as being part of Asia.* So the republicans could stop, and visit the troops in Iraq, especially Baghdad, which according to John McCain, is pretty much as safe as Detroit right now. Gosh, I can see the Iraqi's getting into the automobile industry! Perfect name for their new SUV, the Insurgent. But, I digress.

Again, I ask you, has malaria become the number one issue facing the world and the USA? Could terrorists train mosquito's infected with malaria to infiltrate the US and cause mass destruction and death? Or just a need for mosquito nets? I guess I need to pay more attention to these things. You know there is an ulterior motive for this interest in malaria. For the Bush administration, I mean. It can't be only because they want to help people in other countries.





*
http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/
*Woman's Day magazine, April 17 2007 edition, Your Health, page37, produced by Jennifer Rainey Marquez



4 comments:

The Future Was Yesterday said...

"Each and every one of us has the responsibility to stop the suffering caused by malaria -- because every life, in every land, matters."
It's the Rethugs incredible way of lying to themselves (and us), only they believe their lies. That dumb broad actually thinks she's "caring."

But then, a religious war "doesn't count." Lives lost there are "for the glory of God" (and me, if I can squeeze it out!).

Anonymous said...

Not everyone in Africa is nomadic. They have big cities, towns, and small villages. I don't think mosquito nets would hurt, but they won't keep all the mosquitos away all the time. In any case, I really don't think malaria should be the top priority. My father caught malaria over 40 years ago. To this day, once a year or so, he has a recurrence. It looks a lot like a bad flu. I'm sure it sucks, but it hasn't killed him. I would rather he (or most anyone else) have malaria than AIDS or guns and bombs going off around him.

Anonymous said...

Not everyone in Africa is nomadic. They have big cities, towns, and small villages. I don't think mosquito nets would hurt, but they won't keep all the mosquitos away all the time. In any case, I really don't think malaria should be the top priority. My father caught malaria over 40 years ago. To this day, once a year or so, he has a recurrence. It looks a lot like a bad flu. I'm sure it sucks, but it hasn't killed him. I would rather he (or most anyone else) have malaria than AIDS or guns and bombs going off around him.

billie said...

well- they did do something about the aids epidemic- they got it spiking again. in his first month in office- gw cut funding to contraceptives and funded abstinence only programs overseas. before that, aids numbers had been dropping off and leveling off- now, they have risen again. that's the focus i guess.