What can $10 buy you? Not much these days. You can buy a cup of coffee for yourself and a friend at one of the specialty coffee chains. Or, you can buy 1 movie ticket, but forget about the popcorn. Or, you can save a life!
Only $10 will buy a bed net and medicine to save a child or a pregnant woman from malaria. Imagine, forgo 1 movie that you probably should not be watching anyway and save a life. Is there really a choice?
Last night something incredible happened. As one of the illustrious speakers stated, “Tonight is the beginning of a movement.”
United For Change hosted its inaugural event United Against Malaria, One Body : One Goal in Maryland. More than a dozen knowledgeable and inspiring speakers spoke about malaria, what can be done to eradicate it, and what Islam teaches about our responsibility to humanity. There were tears, laughter, indignation, but mostly hope--hope that the American Muslim community can work together to bring real change in the world.
The promise and tragedy of malaria is that it is preventable and treatable.
The promise, of course, is that this deadly disease can be eradicated. The statistics are alarming. About half of the world’s population (3.3 billion) is a risk of contracting malaria; about 250 million people contract the disease each year; and over 1 million people die, mostly children under the age of 5. As one speaker summed it up, “You have to be dead inside not to care.”
Simple things like bed nets, medicine, and changes to the physical environment (i.e., removing water sources where mosquitoes breed) can make an enormous difference. Malaria is described as the “low hanging fruit” of public health initiatives.
Malaria was endemic to the United States not so long ago. In fact, many of us learned last night that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main U.S. government agency dedicated to preventing disease and promoting health, was established in 1946 to end malaria.
The tragedy of malaria is that despite our knowledge of how to eradicate it, it has not been done.
Where has the money gone that could have been used to save millions of lives? Much of it has been spent on the two major economic enterprises, armaments and drugs, according to one speaker. That does not particularly bode well for the human psyche to say the least.
Over the next week or so, I intend to post a series of articles on yesterday's event, the public health and Islamic knowledge that was shared, and why yesterday may have been a turning point for Muslim Americans.
If you missed it, don’t worry. There are and will be many opportunities to help with this campaign to end malaria and to usher in a new era of Muslim cooperation for the greater good.
Related articles:
United Against Malaria: the Low-Hanging Fruit - Part 2
United Against Malaria: Two scholars share their vision for American Muslims - Part 3
For more info: The History of Malaria, Islamic Relief's Bite the Bug campaign
See also:
Islamic Relief's fight against malaria: a deadly, but preventable, disease
Bite the Bug: Help Islamic Relief eradicate malaria
Islamic Relief gains 4 stars for 5th time
United Against Malaria – 2 amazing events this Saturday, September 5, in Maryland
Comments
Sequel to listing to one of your Islamic sermon(Lecture)form where I heard about your web-site. Having visited it,i found so interesting considering the materials/articles found there.However, the picture placed at the Add a Comment area (beside "Become an Examiner")could have been changed to a female in modesty or brother. You can reply me on muralat@gmail.com. Ma-Salam.
Salaams:
Good article, and good cause.
But - why do American Muslims continue to look outside of America (Palestine, Pakistan, etc.) when so much help and work remains to be done here in our own country? I know that Imam Siraj is part of the Malaria effort. Imagine what could be done if Muslims donated $10 to MANA's efforts to assist incarcerated Muslims re-entering society and our masjids? Muslim organizations dedicated to helping homeless Muslim women cannot raise sufficient funds. Muslim organizations dedicated to domestic violence suffer from lack of funds. American Muslims have barely scratched the suface with institution building. Where are the Islamic hospitals and universities in America?
Just saying ...
Salam, what amazing timing, my husband just got through his second (re-occuring) bout of Malaria that he caught here in United Arab Emirates which is SUPPOSED to be Malaria free.... scary stuff, Malaria.
Thanks for informing the public more!
Safiyyah you are right also, not only we need to help our fellow mankind worldwide but also in our own backyards.
I hope everyone's goals in improving the earth and Man is successful. Insha'Allah.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!