World Health Organisation Announces 21 Countries Could Be Malaria-Free By 2020
Marie Line Songuet of the Central African Red Cross was part of an IFRC-supported long-lasting insecticidal net distribution team that was carjacked and held hostage for several hours while on mission.
So in this malaria conundrum, what do we do?
In 2015 there was no indigenous case of malaria in all countries in the World Health Organisation European Region, a new WHO report has said. Most of the diagnoses came from areas bordering Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Overall, such countries where eliminating malaria is within reach are expected to face a one-third drop in worldwide funding, the research said.
Visiting a clinic is not always easy. According to the SANBS in a recent press statement, malaria is also transmitted from infected individuals through blood transfusions and infected needles.
The disease, it has also been discovered, accounts for "considerable lost days of productivity among the adult population" in the country.
Right now, the mosquito-borne disease is largely prevented using insecticides that are sprayed and used in netting, as well as antimalarial medications (there is no malaria vaccine). But local media accuse hospital staff of selling the nets in Chad and Nigeria where people have to pay for them.
On 20 April 2016, the WHO released the World Malaria Report 2015, which showed major decline in global malaria cases and deaths since 2000.
Another instance of public health deteriorating while conflict rages is South Sudan.
The day has also coincided with persistent shortages of anti malaria drug in some hospitals including Mzimba and Bwaila in Lilongwe blamed mainly on pilferages.
"Through our Malaria Free India initiative we aim to achieve zero malaria incidences in more than 1,200 villages of Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh by FY21", Sun Pharma Managing Director Dilip Shanghvi said here at the launch of the partnership. The most deadly malaria parasite and the most prevalent in Africa is Plasmodium falciparum.
Symptoms vary from flu-like effects - such as severe headaches, fever, joint pains, shivering episodes, nausea and vomiting - to more serious symptoms like severe breathing difficulties, low blood sugar, severe anaemia, renal failure, repeated vomiting, shock, hypoglycaemia, black urine, abnormal bleeding or even a coma. Without prompt treatment, Plasmodium falciparum malaria can progress to sever illness and death, the World Health Organization says on its website.