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The Problem of Malaria
 Malaria is one of the largest killers of children in the world today. It is exclusively spread by the female Anopheline mosquito and each year in sub Saharan Africa 2 million people die because from it. Over 40% of IDP deaths in Burma are from Malaria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year there are upto 500 million episodes of malaria. That is up to 10 infections a minute, which translates into 300 deaths a day.
Malaria has a huge economic impact not only in terms of time lost in the work place but because of the escalating health costs. It is especially devastating in sub Saharan Africa where a child dies every 30 seconds from the disease. Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. The World Bank estimates that Malaria can affect a countrys economic performance and reduce its GDP by up to a full percentage point.
Malaria is found in many places mainly in tropical areas but the most cases are found in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. It is dominant in country´s whose economies are struggling and poverty is high.
There are 4 main types of parasite that cause Malaria the most deadly is plasmodium falciparum which causes a strain of Malaria known as PF Malaria. This strain of Malaria can kill a person within days especially when it becomes cerebral malaria. The happens when the PF malaria parasites in the blood block the capillaries of the brain. PF malaria is responsible for up to 90% of malaria deaths in Africa alone!
To beat Malaria we have to help people to make the right connections so that they can address the disease and meet the challenge head on. Empowering NGOs and local communities is the key to reducing the death toll.
What is Buzz Off?
Buzz Off is an initiative of ARMS that is designed to help NGOs and small communities to address the Malaria problem in the areas in which they work.
Heres how it works. Any NGO or local community can be signatory to the Buzz Off charter. This charter outlines the problem of Malaria and obliges all signatories to raise the profile of Malaria education, prevention, testing and treatment with in the projects that they run. Each year NGOs update the Buzz Off Website  with reports of how the targets they have set are being met.
By emphasizing the Malaria problem and making it a higher priority more will be done to eradicate the disease and bring down the death toll.
A brochure about Buzz Off in PDF format can be found here.
The Buzz Off Charter and supporting documents can be donloaded in PDF fromat from here.
Want to know more? email buzzoff@arms.org.au we are also constructing a website for Buzz Off it can be found at www.buzzoff.org
ARMS is currently recruiting campaign staff for Buzz Off.
Say NO to Malaria. Donate to ARMS Buzz Off initiative through our secure site.
Donations to Buzz Off are tax deductible to Australian donors.
US and Canadian donors can give tax deductibly by following the instruction on this page by clicking on the flags
Select Buzz Off from the International Projects Menu
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