The malaria parasite has been killing children and sapping the

Hear now the grave words of Bill Gates: “The malaria parasite has been killing children and sapping the strength of whole populations for tens of thousands of years. It is impossible to calculate the harm malaria has done to the world.” These words are not clothed in poetry, yet they carry the weight of lamentation, of mourning sung through the centuries. They summon us to remember that humanity’s greatest struggles are not always with armies or empires, but with unseen foes—tiny parasites, silent and merciless, that have shaped the fate of kingdoms and written tragedy into the lives of countless families.

The ancients knew this scourge. The Greeks spoke of the “autumnal fevers” that struck without warning and left villages in ruin. Roman legions, mighty in steel, faltered in marshlands haunted by the malaria parasite, and the empire itself was weakened not only by enemies, but by fevered nights and drained bodies. So too in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, whole generations grew up under the shadow of this disease. It stole from them not only their health, but their labor, their future, their hope. Such is the truth in Gates’s words: that it is impossible to calculate the harm—for how does one measure the lost potential of millions of children who never reached their prime?

Consider a story closer to our age: in the Panama Canal project of the early 20th century, workers fell not only to the challenges of engineering, but to the cruel bite of the mosquito. Thousands sickened, and progress halted until science rose to the challenge. Only through the tireless work of doctors who drained swamps and spread nets did the canal become possible. Thus we see: the victories of civilization are not won by strength of arm alone, but by mastering the plagues that sap the strength of the builders themselves.

This is why Gates raises his voice—not as a lament only, but as a call to arms. He reminds us that for tens of thousands of years, humanity has been shackled by a foe smaller than a grain of sand. The true war against suffering is not waged only on battlefields but in laboratories, hospitals, and villages where mothers cradle fevered children. His words are a torch, illuminating the need for unyielding resolve to free future generations from this ancient chain.

Let us draw wisdom from this: even the smallest adversary, ignored, can bind the fate of nations. A single parasite has humbled kings and enslaved continents. Yet this also reveals the opposite truth: that by banding together, by applying knowledge, resources, and compassion, humanity can break free. Just as Rome fell weakened by fever, modern Africa may yet rise strengthened by the eradication of malaria. Every child saved is not only a life restored but a seed of prosperity planted for tomorrow.

Take this lesson to heart, O child of tomorrow: never underestimate the hidden struggles that shape the destiny of peoples. The loud threats of the world—wars, politics, rivalries—may distract the eye, but it is often the quiet, persistent affliction that steals the future. Let your own life be one of vigilance, not only against the enemies you can see, but against the subtle habits, fears, or weaknesses that quietly drain your strength. For in your life, too, there are “parasites” of doubt, laziness, or neglect that, left unchecked, can sap the greatness within you.

Therefore, act with foresight and compassion. Support the causes that fight against suffering, whether through charity, service, or innovation. Guard your own soul and body against the creeping foes of complacency. And most of all, remember that the greatest victories are won not by ignoring the unseen, but by confronting it with courage and perseverance.

Thus is the teaching: the harm of malaria is beyond calculation, but the hope of humanity is beyond measure. If for tens of thousands of years the parasite has struck, then let our generation be the one to strike back. For as Gates has declared, the time of reckoning is here—not only with the enemy at our gates, but with the enemy in the air, waiting for the moment when conviction, compassion, and unity shall at last prevail.