I’ve been sick all week. Malaria, the other scourge of Africa, has dealt me a mighty blow. I don’t know what I was thinking but I forgot to take the anti-malaria drugs before leaving the States! By the time I remembered it was already too late. Anyway, I didn’t worry because I have lived a couple of years before in Nigeria and I thought I would be immune by now…well, let that be a lesson to all adventurous travelers heading off to Africa. Don’t be a hero take all the preventive drugs that you can and save yourself some serious discomfort.

Dizziness, fever, headache, backache…I got the works. Thankfully, the storm has passed and I feel much better now but that was only after I took a series of anti-malaria injections, followed by a 3 day regimen of chloroquine.

Malaria is right up there with HIV/AIDS as one of the leading causes of death in Africa. And, even though it is easily treatable, some people cannot afford the drugs. Even when they can, new strains of the disease seem to keep popping up every year, making the parasite resistant to traditional modes of treatment.

The summer time (Raining Season) is also when the rate of infection dramatically increases because that’s when all the mosquitoes in the world seem to congregate to Africa and declare a feast celebration on mankind.

So I missed going to the office for a few days now but I’m ready to return on Monday all refreshed and cured. In fact, WOCON is preparing for another public outreach event by mid-July and I’m really excited to be a part of it, especially since I helped to design the posters, t-shirts and leaflets that we will be handing out…more details on this event next week so stay tuned!