Today, the 25th of April, 2014 is World malaria day. It has been set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a day of awareness and action against malaria which is one of the modern world’s killer diseases. It is a day of reflection for governments, communities and individuals on the dangers posed by the disease and the need to devise ways and means of combating it. The theme for the celebration this year and the year 2015 is ‘Invest in the future, defeat malaria’.
Malaria is a killer disease, and causes much discomfort to a sufferer. It is common in Africa and South East Asia. The disease is caused by mosquito bites by a type of mosquito known as anopheles. This mosquito carries plasmodium, a type of parasite that transmits the disease from one person to another. Malaria causing germs are carried by the female anopheles which sucks blood. Another type of mosquito, the Culex mosquito, carries germs that cause elephantiasis, dengue fever and yellow fever.
Mosquitoes spread malaria through bites during which they suck the blood of their victim and in the process transmit the disease – causing germs. Mosquito bites are a source of great irritation and annoyance while the disease when it afflicts anyone is a source of great suffering and often causes death especially among the very young. People suffering from malaria are unable to work and often ask for sick leave with the result that work places lose a lot of man- hours and millions of naira.
The treatment of malaria and its prevention is a major health issue in many developing countries in Africa and Asia where the malaria causing insect is prevalent. Governments spend billions yearly to procure anti- malaria drugs while thousands of health and sanitation personnel are employed also to combat the disease- bearing insects in many countries.
Mosquitoes are found in usually dirty and overcrowded environment notably, ponds, swamps, channels for waste water like gutters, as well as bushes or vegetation around the homes or offices. Therefore part of the measures to combat malaria is to deny the mosquito a dirty and water- logged environment on which to breed. Thus regular cleaning of our homes, offices and environment is advised.
Water channels and drains should be kept clean by sweeping and disinfectant while flowers and bushes around homes and offices should be fumigated and regularly cleaned up. In fact regular sanitation efforts will reduce the presence of harmful mosquito in our environment. Old pots, tins and containers of various sorts should be disposed of.
Thankfully, the need to combat malaria has gained currency worldwide in recent times. Global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 42% globally and 49% in Africa. Increased political commitment and expanded funding have helped to reduce malaria incidence by 25% globally, and 31% in Africa.
One industry that has played a significant and effective role in combatting malaria is the pharmaceutical industry. The industry in India and China took the challenge posed by malaria headlong and has filled the market with a variety of anti- malaria drugs that are affordable and effective against the disease.
But we are not there yet. Malaria still kills an estimated 627, 000 people every year, mainly children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2013, 97 countries had on-going malaria transmission.
Every year, more than 200 million cases occur; most of these cases are never tested or registered. Emerging resistant drug and insecticide threaten to reverse recent gains.
If the world is to maintain and accelerate progress against malaria, in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs goal 6), and to ensure attainment of MDGs 4 and 5, more funds are urgently required. Nigeria has done generally well in combating malaria and ensuring that health institutions across the country have basic anti- malaria drugs. However, the country needs to do more in the area of enlightenment of the population on hygiene and sanitation.
