Imagine Nigeria Without Malaria
Today is World Malaria Day and to most people in Nigeria, (like a lot of other countries where the disease is endemic) Malaria is like an old recurring problem you struggle to get rid of – every so often rearing its nasty head again to cause illness and some days of inaction.
It’s no respecter of persons or class, this Malaria bug, or the female Anopheles Mosquito that carries it around.
In more vulnerable people, serious illness and death are caused by Malaria infections globally (400,000 people every year - mainly pregnant women, children under 5 years old and elderly).
Going by recent WHO figures, there's good news: Malaria is on the decline worldwide; and because of research and commitment to global eradication, new cases of malaria reduced by over 20% and the death rates reduced by nearly 30% in the 5-year period between 2010 and 2015.
This has come about from a combination of several factors, including
Targeted environmental and cultural changes because people’s traditional beliefs about the cause of Malaria had seriously hindered treatment.
Encouraging awareness and uses of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), and regular Indoor Residual Spraying for homes/buildings in endemic countries
Prompt testing tools like the Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs)
Medication – using prophylaxis for travellers and people at risk while promptly using the correct treatment when infected.
However, the biggest cheer on Malaria this year must be for the announcement by WHO yesterday that Malaria Vaccine trials will commence in 2018 in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.
Described an injectable vaccine called RTS,S, it has been developed “to protect young children from the most deadly form of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum”.
We are told RTS,S will (following successful pilots), join as a “complementary malaria control tool that could potentially be added to the core package of WHO-recommended measures for malaria prevention”.
For anyone who lives in one of the African countries where Malaria is endemic and you’ve had to battle multiple malaria infections coupled with the side effects that some of the medications for treatment - today is a good day to think about what you do to keep yourself and your family Malaria free.
In the meantime, explore our graphic about some Myths and Facts about Malaria and Mosquitoes.
As always, great to hear your thoughts on this in the comments section below.
Stay Well.
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
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