The focus of this paper is on the environment, malaria and typhoid fever. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of our people die from deadly malaria and typhoid fever each year. Malaria is the world's largest killer of children and pregnant women. Twenty seven villages in Enugu State of Nigeria were visited by Enugu USA Medical Mission team on December 14-18, 2009. Four thousand two hundred men, women, and children were assessed, treated, or given medications for various illnesses such as malaria, infections, kidney problems, arthritis, and abdominal problems.
Results/Conclusions
More than one thousand men, women, and children were treated for malaria symptoms. Poorly drained conditions, empty plastic, glass and other kinds of open containers are common breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit malaria in Enugu, Nigeria. Malaria symptoms documented include but not limited to moderate to severe shaking chills, high fever, profuse sweating as body temperature falls, general feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise), headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Several cases of typhoid fever were also reported in Enugu, Nigeria. Drinking water contaminated with fecal matter from sewage is common in villages visited by Enugu USA Medical Mission team. After a rain event, raw sewage flows directly into creeks and streams. Typhoid is spread when an individual eats food or drinks water contaminated by human waste. Symptoms of typhoid fever include sudden onset of a fever, severe headache, nausea, etc. Both malaria and typhoid fever are preventable diseases when health and environment are integrated. Environmental data, disease symptoms, and people who were assessed and treated will be presented at the meeting.
