Diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis claim lives and destroy families every day. Yet, each of these diseases is preventable and treatable. We can save millions of lives by ensuring that everyone has access to health education, proper sanitation, clean water, mosquito nets, and affordable medication.
The target of Goal Six is to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other major diseases.
Making It Real
Episcopal Relief and Development is fighting preventable diseases worldwide. Malaria, which claims over one million lives each year and kills a child every 30 seconds, can be easily prevented with the effective use of mosquito nets.
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Diocese of Katanga to distribute long-lasting insecticide treated nets in remote areas that are plagued by malaria. Since children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to severe illness and death from malaria, those families are targeted to receive nets and training in their proper use. Research has shown when communities use long-lasting insecticide treated nets, and implements basic sanitation methods, they can reduce the mosquito population by as much as 60%.
Elize lives with her husband and eight children in Kapolowe, a village in the Diocese of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because malaria is rampant in the area, Elize was spending a large portion of the family’s limited income on medical treatment for her children’s frequent bouts with the illness. The treatments were typically ineffective and actually caused drug resistance to malaria. When Episcopal Relief and Development and the Diocese of Katanga implemented a malaria prevention program in her village, Elize received a long-lasting, insecticide-treated net to protect her family and learned basic techniques to prevent malaria. She also learned how to identify symptoms early and what medicines are truly effective. Since obtaining the net and receiving the training, no one in her family has contracted malaria. Thanks to ERD, Elize is now using her newly-acquired knowledge to organize her neighbors in community action on malaria prevention.
What you can do: ACT.
Dedicate your time and talents to the global fight against disease. Your advocacy can turn the tide! Fight the stigma of AIDS in your community, or contact your senators about making HIV/AIDS and malaria drugs available to people in the developing world.
For Further Consideration
- Spread the word about the Anglican (and Episcopal) Mothers' Union. From Africa, to Asia, to America, the Mothers Union and other diseases in remarkable ways.
- Check out the Episcopal Public Policy Network's Advocacy News and Information page, where you can learn about an issue and take action right away.
- Visit this detailed advocacy page from Global AIDS Alliance. It even gets you started with talking points and sample letters.
- Download the malaria-themed edition of ERD Now.
Go on to Goal 7 >>
