Children at the Nata clinic.

Malaria season is now upon us in Nata.  Rainy season is from November to April and the months of March an April are two of the highest for Malaria cases.  We try to encourage the villagers to buy mosquito nets but many cannot afford the cost of $5.  Children under 5 and the elderly are most at risk to die from Malaria.  The most dangerous type of Malaria is cerebral Malaria.  This is where the parasite enters the brain and the patient can die within 24 to 48 hours.  Unfortunately we have already lost several villagers to cerebral malaria.  Patients that come for treatment early are given the drug Fansidar and usually recover within a few days.