Wayne Rooney and team-mates join UNICEF’s malaria campaign for children

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 29, 2014 5:33 pm

England football team captain Wayne Rooney and his teammates have teamed up with children’s charity UNICEF and launched a campaign to protect children from Malaria, which kills a child every 30 seconds. The millionaire players hope to use their fame to promote the use of life-saving mosquito nets. Rooney was joined by goalkeeper Joe Hart, defender Gary Cahill and midfielder Jack Wilshere to launch the campaign. Also Read - New mutation in malaria parasite may resist drug used to prevent the disease: Study

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Rooney said that it’s unbelievable that every 90 minutes, the time it takes to play a football match, 180 children would lose their lives to malaria, The Daily Star reported. He said that as captain of the England football team he is hugely proud that they are able to help UNICEF in its goal of protecting every child in danger from this disease. (Read: Now a new method to help treat malaria) Also Read - NIH researchers find new target for malaria treatment: Know the best way to prevent the disease

Goalkeeper Hart said that he is used to defending his goal net against some of the best players in the world, but added that for some children, being able to sleep under a life-saving mosquito net can mean the last line of defence from this deadly disease. The campaign, backed by the England Footballer’s Foundation, kicked off with a poster featuring the stars alongside pupils from William Shrewsbury Primary School, Burton upon Trent, Staffs, the report added. Read more about Neem and tulsi, effective remedies to keep malaria out of your home

Here are some natural ways to keep your home mosquito-free

Neem oil: Neem has a number of great benefits for the human body, but apart from being an elixir for your health, neem is also a great mosquito-repellent. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association {1} found that mixing neem oil with coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio is a really effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay. Being a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-protozoal agent, neem lends your skin a particular smell that wards off mosquitoes. To make an effective insecticide mix neem oil and coconut oil in equal portions and rub it on your body (all exposed parts). This will protect you from mosquito bites for at least eight hours.

Eucalyptus and lemon oil: Recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as an effective insect-repellent the mixture of lemon oil and eucalyptus oil is extremely effective in repelling mosquitoes naturally. The way lemon oil and eucalyptus oil works is due to its active component cineole, which has both antiseptic and insect-repellent properties when applied to the skin. The best part about this mixture is that it is natural and does not come with all the ill effects of chemical mosquito repellents. To use this mixture, mix lemon oil and eucalyptus oil in equal proportions and use it on your body.

Camphor: Using camphor as a repellent also works wonders. Made from the extract of a tree, this compound has been found to have the longest mosquito repellent activity when compared to other natural products. {2}Light camphor in a room and close all the doors and windows. Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes and go back to a mosquito free environment. Read more about 10 natural ways to keep your home mosquito-free

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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Published : October 29, 2014 5:33 pm

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