Africa (MNN) — The World Health Organization is concern about a new strain of malaria that seems to be resistant to most affordable medications. According to reports Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa is already highly resistant to chloroquine, with around half of cases no longer treatable. In Madagascar, resistance is about 20 percent, but is expected to rise steeply.
Teen Missions International's Steve Peterson says they hold boot camps in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He says, "A certain combination of drugs is the only thing the doctors are saying is having any affect against this strain and it's expensive, which puts it out of range for many of the nationals where we are working."
While drugs are available for their missionary staff in Africa, they're still concerned. "Teen Missions is, however, very concerned for our national staff, our Bible school students, and many of the orphans that we minister to in-country. There just isn't funding available to fight this on a wide scale."
He's asking Christians to pray as some of their people in Zambia were hit with the disease. Their boot camps haven't been affected, but they have 2,000 orphans they're taking care of and they need to come up with an answer fast.
Pray also that God would use this situation to bring many people to Himself.
If you would like to help Teen Missions purchase medication to help fight this disease, go to http://www.TeenMissions.org or call (321) 453-0350.
