The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick: A Call to Care for Those Who Are Suffering From Malaria
Photo by Samuel Phelps/CRS
Last Updated: January 2025
The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick
February 11 is an important day in the lives of Catholics around the world, as it commemorates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick.
The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes observes the appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 in the Grotto of Lourdes, France, a place renowned for physical and spiritual healing. Pope St. John Paul II began the initiative for the Church to observe World Day of the Sick in conjunction with Our Lady of Lourdes in 1992, to remind us to reflect on and pray for all those who are frail or sick, and their caregivers.
Pope St. John Paul II, when establishing the day, stated:
“May the Blessed Virgin, Health of the Sick and Mother of the Living, be our support and our hope and, through the celebration of the Day of the Sick, increase our sensitivity and dedication to those being tested…”
A Call to Care for Those Who Are Sick
As we reflect on the importance of caring for our sisters and brothers on this day, we’d also like to raise awareness for a growing, life-threatening disease impacting people worldwide—malaria. Malaria is spread to humans by mosquitoes, with children, pregnant women and travelers being at a higher risk of infection in tropical countries.
In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths in over 83 countries.
This is according to the latest facts and figures from the World Health Organization. Regions in Africa, like the village of Koubatsaki, in the Republic of the Congo, continue to carry the disproportionate burden of malaria. These regions were home to about 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of deaths in 2023, according to WHO.
Koubatsaki is a village blessed with an abundant source of fresh water from natural springs that flow through the region and into the nearby Congo River. The water feeds artisanal irrigation systems into fertile vegetable plots tended by local farmers. This way of life has not changed for many years; families living off the land and sometimes earning income from what produce they can sell. But when the water stops flowing in the village and forms stagnant pools, it is no longer a blessing. It brings the omnipresent threat of malaria.
“We are surrounded by a lot of water,” says Jean-Pierre Momonekene, village chief. “The mosquitos are everywhere. Malaria is produced here almost like in a factory. You feel weak, you have fever, sore joints, and are sick in the stomach, even vomiting. This is something that dates back to before I was born.
“The consequence is that everyone suffers in the community,” says Jean-Pierre. “People are too poor to be treated, they die from malaria in serious cases. If you do not have any energy you can’t go into the fields or undertake other activities to make a living and support your family.”
Brothers walk around ponds that were once used to raise fish and now breed mosquitoes that can carry malaria.
Photo by Samuel Phelps/CRS
Prisca Malonga sits with her husband Eric Ndamba, their baby boy, Charlie Oscar, and son Grace-a-Dieu in the village of Koubatsaki, Republic of the Congo.
Photo by Samuel Phelps/CRS
Join the Mission to Combat Malaria
Prisca Malonga and her husband Eric Ndamba live with this reality every day. Working as a public servant, Eric is a groundskeeper for a disused fish farm. Over a dozen ponds that were at one time used to breed fish are now breeding grounds for mosquitos.
“Each week there is a child or parent who suffers from malaria,” says Eric. “Sometimes I can pay for the medicine I buy from street sellers but if we don’t have the money, we make a herbal tea to alleviate the symptoms, because the hospital is so expensive. You are never at ease. You are always worried.”
“When my children have malaria, I hardly sleep because I am taking care of them,” says Prisca. “My youngest son was recently sick; he was crying and had fever all night. I suffer from fatigue; it’s like I am also sick. When I have malaria, it provokes high blood pressure and other sicknesses are triggered. It’s hard to take care of myself and the children at the same time.”
Ultimately, the best defense against malaria is prevention. Treated mosquito nets, technically known as long-lasting insecticidal nets offer the most effective method of protecting families from mosquito bites that carry the malaria disease.
Other prevention methods include:
- Mosquito repellants.
- Protective clothing.
- Vaporizers.
- Window screens.
Prisca Malonga holds her baby boy, Charlie Oscar, while helping her husband Eric Ndamba air new mosquito nets.
Photo by Samuel Phelps/CRS
“If the kids are no longer sick and the household is more secure, I will be happy and relieved that they are no longer suffering from malaria,” says Eric.
“Relief means the family is in good health and we don’t have to spend money on medicine. We can save it for something like my gardening. I could buy more grain to grow crops and grow my business for the benefit of my family.”
CRS actively participates in the RBM Partnership to End Malaria through the Alliance for Malaria Prevention, the SMC Alliance, the Vector Control Working Group, the Case Management Working Group, and the Francophonie Working Group. CRS is a Core Group/Steering Committee member of the Alliance for Malaria Prevention, the SMC Alliance and the Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Partners Committee. CRS also serves as the co-chair of RBM ARMPC’s Multisectoral Advocacy Workstream. Through these global leadership roles, CRS works with malaria technical partners, the RBM Secretariat and the WHO’s Global Malaria Program to draft new global policy guidance and ensure sustained introduction and scale-up of new interventions.
Reporting contributed by Samuel Phelps.
