2nd place
silver star award
Biljana Jurukovski
australia
title
Malaria: an unnecessary global tragedy
A child in Africa dies every minute from malaria.
So, you might conclude that Mande Juma is luckier than most. His mother, Mary Juma, can still
cuddle him in her arms and offer maternal comfort as she lies beside him through his fever, vomiting
and diarrhoea.
Although Mande’s condition is poor, he has reached the nearest Public Health Unit (PHU). Mary
walked for ten hours to bring him to Lafon County, and if she hadn’t, Mande would have surely
become another child to add to the statistics.
Mary Juma’s journey was a dangerous one. She passed through mountains full of wild animals and
the warring rebels. She walked on roads that may have been dry now but could soon turn to flood
water when the rains come. The love for a mother is strong, and she does what is needed to help her
child beat the terrible odds for survival. Others who arrived at the PHU were not as lucky, as the
malaria was already beyond control.
While the tragedy of a quarter of all children dying before the age of five is devastating for South
Sudan, it is not a problem limited to this country. From Ethiopia to Sierra Leone, from Cambodia to
Myanmar, children are dying because they are not treated for malaria in time.
It shouldn’t take luck and the overwhelming love of a mother to save children like Mande. More
must be done to prevent the disease from taking the young, a disease that is so easily prevented and
treated.
Biljana’s portraits are a culmination of her passion, love and respect for other cultures and traditions; they depict a graceful world where strength and pride are engraved on the faces of the people photographed. Her aim is through photography to create discussions about different cultures, their way of living and accepting life challenges. Biljana sees photography as a medium for communication between people.
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entry description
A child in Africa dies every minute from malaria.
So, you might conclude that Mande Juma is luckier than most. His mother, Mary Juma, can still
cuddle him in her arms and offer maternal comfort as she lies beside him through his fever, vomiting
and diarrhoea.
Although Mande’s condition is poor, he has reached the nearest Public Health Unit (PHU). Mary
walked for ten hours to bring him to Lafon County, and if she hadn’t, Mande would have surely
become another child to add to the statistics.
Mary Juma’s journey was a dangerous one. She passed through mountains full of wild animals and
the warring rebels. She walked on roads that may have been dry now but could soon turn to flood
water when the rains come. The love for a mother is strong, and she does what is needed to help her
child beat the terrible odds for survival. Others who arrived at the PHU were not as lucky, as the
malaria was already beyond control.
While the tragedy of a quarter of all children dying before the age of five is devastating for South
Sudan, it is not a problem limited to this country. From Ethiopia to Sierra Leone, from Cambodia to
Myanmar, children are dying because they are not treated for malaria in time.
It shouldn’t take luck and the overwhelming love of a mother to save children like Mande. More
must be done to prevent the disease from taking the young, a disease that is so easily prevented and
treated.
about the photographer
Biljana Jurukovski is a Macedonian Australian Award-Winning Photographer who has been inspired and amazed by the diverse and beautiful expressions of different cultures. She enjoys travelling to remote destinations to learn about cultures and traditions of indigenous people and to photograph them.Biljana’s portraits are a culmination of her passion, love and respect for other cultures and traditions; they depict a graceful world where strength and pride are engraved on the faces of the people photographed. Her aim is through photography to create discussions about different cultures, their way of living and accepting life challenges. Biljana sees photography as a medium for communication between people.
back to gallery