World malaria day 2016: End malaria for good

World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. This year’s theme is “end malaria for good" and it reflects the vision of a malaria-free world set out in the global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitoes called malaria vectors. There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans- Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium malariae of which P. falciparum and P. vivax pose the greatest threat. P. falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the African continent and it is responsible for most malaria-related death globally.
Malaria is an acute febrile illness. Symptoms appear 7 days or more in a non-immune individual after the infective mosquito bite. First symptoms include headache, fever, chills, joint pain, flu and vomiting. It may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria. If not treated within 24 hours, P.falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness like cerebral malaria often leading to death.
Vector control is the main way to prevent and reduce malaria transmission. Two forms of vector control- indoor residual spraying and insectides-treated mosquito nets- are effective in a wild range of circumstances. There are currently no vaccines against malaria and any other human parasites.
Antimalaria drugs can also be used to prevent malaria. For travelers, malaria can be prevented through chemoprophylaxis, which suppresses the blood stage of malaria infections, thereby preventing malaria disease. For pregnant women, intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is recommended at each scheduled antenatal visit after the first trimester.
Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces the disease and prevent deaths. The best available treatment is Artemisinin -based combination therapy (ACT) like the artemether/lumefantrine, artesunate/mefloquine, artesunate/amodiaquine etc.
Malaria eradication is defined as the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of malaria infection. Once eradication has been achieved, intervention measures are no longer needed.
Malaria is preventable. End malaria for good.

The wonders of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from apple or cider. It has pale to medium amber colour. It is made by crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. Bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation process and the sugars are turned into alcohol. In the second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (acetobacter). Acetic acid gives vinegar its sour taste.
Apple cider vinegar is effective for pretty much anything- your hair, your skin, your house and even your overall health.
Health benefits of Apple cider vinegar
1. Diabetes: Apple cider vinegar has shown great promise in improving insulin sensitivity and help to lower blood sugar responses after meals. The acetic acid in vinegar may lower blood sugar by preventing the complete digestion of complex carbohydrates which is accomplished by increasing the uptake of glucose by bodily tissues. Hence, it is highly beneficial to diabetics patients.
2. Heart health: vinegar can reduce blood triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pressure. It contains the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to protect LDL cholesterol particles from becoming oxidized, a crucial step in the heart disease process.
3. Energy boost: it contains potassium and enzymes to help expel tiredness.
4. Weight loss: vinegar can increase feeling of fullness and help people eat fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.
5. Antibacterial properties: the main substance in vinegar, acetic acid, can kill or prevent bacteria from multiplying and reaching harmful levels. It can thus be used as a natural preservative and disinfectant. It can also be used to treat infections like sinus congestion, warts and sore throat.
6. Skin irritations: its works for a variety of skin ailments from insects bite to sunburn.
Beauty and hygiene benefits
1. Facial toner: it helps to prevent breakout and even help bruises to fade out faster. A dab of the vinegar can also be left on the skin overnight to fade age spots or acne scars.
2. Hair rinse: it helps to remove products builds up and balance scalp’s pH level. It boost hair body, make it shine and also used as an anti dandruff.
3. Oral health: gargling with diluted apple cider vinegar helps to whiten teeth and eliminate bad breath. Always dilute before using because of the main ingredient in the vinegar (acetic acid) which is quite harsh.
4. Natural deodorant: helps to eliminate odor-causing bacteria and smell from the feet.
Home benefits
1. Fruits and vegetables wash: diluted apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural agents for removing certain bacteria from your fresh produce.
2. Natural cleansing: best natural cleaning agent due to the antimicrobial properties. It also helps to neutralize odor in the home.
3. Weed killer: it is very effective in controlling weed in the home.
Apple cider vinegar is a wonderful product that can be used in a multitude of ways. I highly recommend it!

All flesh is as grass...

Beauty can be said to be combination of qualities that give pleasure to the mind or senses. It is a pleasing or attractive feature about somebody or something that can either be external or internal.
The desire for beauty is the secret push behind the rush for new clothes, shoes, cars and architectural which many men and women pursue. Beauty is what pushes many to look for money at all cost. The desire to appear beautiful has become such a great matter that both the young and old press for it. Though the desire for beauty appears much more intense among women, the men are not left out of this mad rush. Most times it is the desire for beauty that makes most men go for most recent electronic gadgets, flashy cars and new architectural designs. The same beauty makes them rush for girls that look beautiful. Such girls often receive more proposals for marriage than the so called less beautiful girls, not necessarily because God is leading them but because the beautiful appearance of the girls attract them.
It is natural for people to go for things which appear beautiful, but unfortunately, such beauty is temporal. No matter how beautiful or attractive a house might be, it will fade away; collapse or little carelessness with fire may raze it down to ashes. So it is with beautiful clothes or cars. Even the beauty of human appearance is not everlasting. A girl who appears beautiful today may become ugly tomorrow by reasons of growth, sickness, childbearing or accident, and so with handsome men. Beauty can turn to ashes as life goes on. This is called the fading beauty (temporary beauty).
Physical beauty is pleasant to the eye but it does not last. No matter how much spent to bring forth a beautiful edifice, body or clothes, it is still temporary. The whole world is subject to the force of decay. What to concentrate our attention and lives upon is that beauty that is eternal (unfading beauty). It is the inner beauty, and when this is omitted in any life, every other thing around that life no matter how beautiful it is will be affected.
Physical beauty has a way of introducing idolatry and spiritual barrenness into the lives of those who go for it. Fashion, clothes and jewels could become your idol. It is alright if God made you beautiful but do not service it.
Our body (physical flesh) and this life are best described as ordinary grass. What exactly is grass? Grass withers, no matter how long it appears on the field. That is the end result. It is a temporal thing. Same as the flower, as beautiful as it appears, fade away. That is how God made it and that is how God made all flesh. It appears today only to disappear tomorrow. The physical life and our bodies are not meant to last, have this understanding so as to know where to apply your time, strength and resources. If you concentrate on beautifying the life that fade away, you will wither and soon fade away with it eternally.
Life is worth more than food and the body is worth more than clothing. It is helpful to focus and apply our lives to nurse and beautify our inner life and make it conducive for God to dwell in.