Meet Linet, an eight-year-old girl who enjoys jumping rope, ball games, and reading. She lives with her grandmother and siblings in Uganda.
"Linet has malaria and her symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, headaches, and fever," our medical partner The Kellermann Foundation, tells us. "She has suffered from the effects of malaria for several weeks. Linet was sent to the hospital by her neighbors from the town, who were worried about her."
Malaria parasites called Plasmodia, damage blood cells and cause poor blood flow to many organs of the body leading to failure of these organs to function well. Malaria is spread by anopheles mosquitoes which are found in the tropics and sub-tropics.
Treatment for malaria requires admission to the hospital and injections of effective anti-malarials for about three days. In addition, there is need for medication to control fever and pain and to support the body organs most affected by providing fluids, oxygen, glucose and minerals. If malaria treatment is delayed or inadequate, the disease could quickly produce complications for Linet.
$130 covers the cost of Linet's surgery as well as seven days of hospital care, diagnostic testing and clinical procedures. After treatment, The Kellermann Foundation expects, "Linet will return to being a healthy, active child."
"Thank you to the hospital and all the people who are helping me," says Linet. "I am looking forward to going home and cooking rice, my favorite food!"
