The 30 Cent Kit That Could End Malaria

The biotechnologist turned entrepreneur is the one responsible
for the breakthrough. 

        It only takes a mosquito bit and you may be infected.  There were 627 000 deaths in 2012, 90% of them coming from sub-Saharan Africa.  Ashley Uys is the South African biotechnologist who is hoping to bring that number down to zero. The self-testing kit can be used to diagnose the disease in less that 30 minutes.  From the number of dots observed in the tube, you can then detect what type of malaria you have. This is especially important so doctors know which treatment to give you and then they can also see if the treatment is working.  They cost roughly 30 cents each and are easily accessible to the public.  All you must do is prick your finger, run the test and wait for the results.  

        In the midst of this year's Ebola virus outbreak, many have forgotten about the malaria disease.  Malaria, as mentioned above, killed 627 000 people in 2012.  Contrastingly, Ebola to date has killed 5459.  Many have forgotten about the population still suffering from malaria and have shifted gears to search for the cure for Ebola.  Uys is only 30 years old, a native of South Africa he was driven to develop something that would help the people whom he grew up with in his childhood.  I think we need more people like Uys, those whom take things that were unnecessarily bad or painful from their past and look to develop a way to make it easier or less painful.

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/13/world/africa/the-kit-that-could-end-malaria/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7