Mary and Martha BBC1 tonight 8.30 (so not long)

[CuriousMama]

Am looking forward to this, 2 great actresses in it Brenda Blethyn and Hilary Swank. Probably be a bit sad but still sounds interesting.

[CuriousMama]

I just donated thanks for that link bisjo. Used Paypal too so very convenient.

[difficultpickle]

I did the same today. I didn't realise it was based on a true story

[cocoachannel]

I thought it was wonderful - very moving. I set up a donation to Malaria No More as the credits rolled.

[difficultpickle]

This is a UK charity which focuses on the prevention and treatment of malaria.

[difficultpickle]

It isn't enough just to take anti-malarials though, you need to take precautions as well. I thought it would have been better if the child was younger so didn't have the option of taking or not taking tablets. The choosing to not take tablets was made clear with Ben, the teacher that died. How old was the American boy supposed to be?

[Yotamsrazor]

I wondered if the American boy didn't take anti-malarials because they were given bad advice re South Africa. I was told you are ok in the main towns/cities but would need it in more rural areas. I wouldn't risk it though and would want everyone to take them if I were going to anywhere in Africa, Asia. I generally loathe Richard Curtis's over-blown slushiness, but did get a lot out of this and thought it really brought the message home about the terrible toll malaria takes.

[Struckachord]

This programme really touched me. For the price of a cup of coffee a child's life can be saved. Malaria kills millions of children each year and it made me feel truly ashamed for worrying about minor things. I wondered if Mumsnet HQ had thought about highlighting this as part of a campaign?

[MoominmammasHandbag]

My great uncle had caught malaria working on the Burma railway as a POW. He must have been pretty tough as he survived, but I remember he used to get these periodic flu like episodes for the rest of his life.

[CuriousMama]

youhearted so sorry to hear about your sister x

[NellysKnickers]

I'm glad I didn't watch it, just reading this thread has got me all teary eyed, the trailer was enough for me. So sad. All the more sad because babies and children are dying from malaria right now.

[difficultpickle]

I think if you live with the risk of malaria everyday and you can take precautions to avoid it then you do it as a matter of second nature. It is harder for us who visit and have to actively think about all the things you need to do to minimise the risk.

[skratta]

Yes, that's what I'd do. Avoid high risk places, take as many precautions there anyway. I've been to Africa once more, to a very low risk place (well, in comparison) and took precautions like you took with your son, and it was only for three days too. Don't get to see my sister unless she visits me, and therefore my nephew and nieces unfortunately, but I won't take my DC or go myself until she goes to a low risk place, and then there will still, naturally, be precautions. Tbh, I'm not sure how she does it with her DC to keep them malaria free. I know she'd never, ever risk their safety so there must be some way, but maybe it's not available here?

[difficultpickle]

Sounds like you took lariam which is used in areas where the standard tablets won't work.

Both times we visited Africa ds was too young to take any tablets hence my concern and research to check where we could go. I was incredibly careful to ensure he was slathered in insect repellant that worked against mosquitos and also that he wore long sleeves and long trousers in the evening. There are loads of places in Africa that are low risk for malaria but you still have to be careful. It didn't put me off taking ds but did mean I was far more careful than when I had been on previous trips without ds and took malaria tablets.

[skratta]

I was meant to go and visit my sister in a place in Burundi (she works for a charity as a doctor training the local people about disease, illnesses, contrsception etc;) but I had a severe reaction to the anti malarial tablets. I had to go to hospital and was in for three weeks, after convulsions, fainting, dizziness, blurred eyesight, panic attacks, tummel visiom, at one point even hallucinations and a big mood change. Im guessing children might sometimes be too young and have big side effects/greater risk of side effects? Which (to me) means not taking them to Africa. So sad that so many children don't get that chance and don't get the help they need.

[malariakills]

Have NCed for this.

I very much enjoyed the programme for its content and also for personal reasons.

My parents spent time abroad before I was born doing research into malaria. Their research was particularly important in recognising just how cost effective and good mosquito nets are.

Both my parents took anti-malaria drugs, but it didn't stop my dad from getting malaria. This was because in order to do his research, there was only one way to feed the mosquitos (I have no idea if has changed in the years since) and the drugs were only so effective at preventing him from getting malaria.

People look to drugs to be the solution to the problem but actually the very best way not to catch malaria is simply to try and prevent yourself from being bitten as much as possible in the first place. Hence why nets are just so important. This also reduces the problem of mosquitos becoming resistant to drugs.

My Dad was ok, but has had a few problems over the years due to the consequences of having had malaria.

If there is one thing that I could say, makes me really proud of them, its this. I know it must have saved thousands of lives.

[Trazzletoes]

Not sure why the young boy didn't have tablets. The mum had a conversation with a medical centre about his jabs being up to date and iirc they kind of pooh-poohed malaria. I have no idea why they didn't have proper information. Every malaria death is preventable, but there was really no excuse for that little lad. Plus he didn't get any medical intervention for days because she thought he had flu. I wasn't watching closely at that time but surely the other people there, like her driver, would have recognised malaria? Or did she just not mention to anyone that he was unwell?

Brenda Blethin's son gave his to the children to protect them. He thought he could beat malaria as he was young, fit and healthy.

[youfhearted]

my sister actually died from malaria but that was a long time ago which is why I couldnt understnad why the boy didnt take tablets but the grown up son had the tablets and gave them away. were they badly informed>?

[youfhearted]

god i couldnt stand that, what a terrible programme.

but i sort of stuck with it.

why didnt the little boy take anti malarials, the son of the american?

[inia]

I'm with itsjustafleshwound on this I think.. I understand the premise, the message and the audience.. but it completely and utterly ignored the causes, the solutions already being applied, the obstacles to those solutions (debt anyone?). There's the Global Malaria Programme; or if you reckon 'celeb' endorsement is necessary, there's the work of Bill and Melinda who surely have ways to make their voice heard in Congress and elsewehere.

The thing that riles me is that somehow we seem to think that we need this 'personal touch', or have to rely on the evangelism of those with direct experience... I really wondered last night why it did not touch me - it's not that I can't relate to watching your child die (my DD was hours away from succumbing to meningitis); it's not that I can't relate to mosquito borne diseases (I've done my time overseas with the most disadvantaged, dengue is not fun; I've seen the mosquito control people in many refugee camps); it's not that I'm not absolutely furious that thousands of people die from preventable diseases.. I'm just sad that apparently we still need programmes like these to get messages across that should have been heard and solved long ago. This post makes some interesting points

On the plus side, if you've all watched it, learned something (and got money out of your pockets), I'd say it was a job well done :)

[CuriousMama]

Thanks for the information suburbophobe. Scary though but we do need to know.

[suburbophobe]

I was in Kenya in 1985. The Malaria pills you got then was Chloroquine and Nivoquine, both now obsolete.

Malaria mosquitos build up resistance all the time.

Now it's Lariam, can make people psychotic, but I or my 8 year old never had a problem with it, besides some weird dreams.

Malarone is the best. Even if expensive. It is definately worth it. Cos your life is precious.

Malaria can kill you within 48 hours. If you take prophelactics, it won't.
If you don't, it will. (could).

For (adult) people in Africa it is like having a flu bout. Cos they have built up immunity.

Malarone is best, I never bother with all that shit about covering your skin etc. and mosquito nets (not always available) anyway.

Dengue fever mosquitos come out during the day, malaria ones during the night.

DEET is goed too (available in Europe), and Citronella candles or anti-mosquito coils, which you can buy in any local shop there.

It never put me off travelling!

[suburbophobe]

Brilliant film and brilliant message.

Malaria can touch us all. Yes, with climate change they reckon it will be in Southern Europe sometime in the future.

NEVER EVER EVER go on an far flung holiday without going to the tropical vaccination buro to get your info on what you need and your jabs updated.

And yes, well, as for antibiotic-resistant TB and gonnorhea on the cards too, we have some interesting times ahead.

Get yourselves informed, people!

[CuriousMama]

Yes I hope it makes people
think more and give what they can.

[twitchycurtains]

I planned not to watch this as I had a feeling it would be upsetting, I was frequently in tears throughout and thought the the 2 leads were brilliant. The protrayal of the aftermath of Mary's sons death was heart breaking to watch, not lighthearted Friday night viewing but well made, well acted and got the message across.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I missed a bit, why did the young son die from Malaria, wouldn't he have had the malaria tablets before he left America? I did enjoy although I sobbed stupidly throughout.