Buzz Off is an initiative of ARMS that is designed to help NGOs to address the Malaria problem in the areas in which they work.

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 according to the World Health Organization, most of its victims are pregnant women or children under the age of 5 years of age..

There are 4 main types of Malaria parasite. The most deadly is plasmodium falciparum (which causes a strain of Malaria known as PF Malaria). The Pf Malaria parasites can block the capillaries of the major organs which can kill a person within hours.

Up to 500 million cases of Malaria are recorded each year; that is 10 cases per second these translate into 3000 deaths a day. The World Bank estimates that Malaria annually costs strggling African ecomomies $US15 billion.

Solving the Malaria problem
Malaria is easy to catch, but it is also easy to treat, easy to prevent and easy to test for. Testing kits can cost up to $US2.50 each. Medicines are usually cheap and readily available through local health departments or community clinics.

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.