Malaria Prevention

Abstarct

Malaria, a entirely avoidable and treatable disease, continues to be one of the major killers in Sub-Saharan Africa today. Malaria spread becomes seasonal but continues to increase, with the majority infections being acquired during or shortly after the rainy season. Regrettably, the swift increase of resistance to antimalarial drugs, extensive poverty, and fragile health infrastructure all through Africa means that the burden from malaria in African countries continues to increase.The goal of this report was to explain the effect of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa region. Research shows that Malaria can be prevented by taking some preventative measure. This report also analyses the Voucher Scheme for Malaria Prevention in Sub Saharan Africa and attempts to look at other preventative measure and their effectiveness.

Malaria Prevention

Introduction

Malaria is one of the most lethal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa—responsible for 9 percent of deaths annually and the second-highest burden of disease behind AIDS.1 and malaria is the leading killer of African children under age 5, causing about 18 percent of all deaths (803,000 per year) in that age group. Unfortunately, the rapid spread of resistance to ant malarial drugs, widespread poverty, and weak health infrastructure throughout Africa means that the burden from malaria in African countries continues to rise.

Discussion

The risk of falciparum malaria is very high in sub-Saharan Africa, except in the extreme South, and much of the malaria is resistant to chloroquine. Everyone visiting malarious parts of sub-Saharan Africa should take appropriate preventive medicines and use adequate protection to prevent mosquito bites (Shulman; et.al. 2006). It is essential to regard all fevers and flu-like illnesses that occur up to a year after leaving Africa, and particularly in the first three months, as possible malaria, and to seek urgent medical advice, as almost all fatal cases of malaria in UK travelers have been contracted in Africa. Malaria is especially dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn children. In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria infection is estimated to cause 400,000 cases of severe maternal anemia and 75,000-200,000 infant deaths annually. Maternal anemia contributes significantly to maternal mortality and causes an estimated 10,000 deaths per year.

Co-infections of malaria and HIV/AIDS—which are most common in sub-Saharan Africa—have major health implications. HIV/AIDS increases the risk of infection with malaria and decreases response to standard anti-malarial treatment. Malaria also contributes to increased viral load among HIV-infected people. The forest zone of West Africa has a high risk of falciparum malaria throughout the year. Chloroquine-resistant parasites are widespread but their distribution is still patchy. Mefloquine or doxycycline or Malarone are the recommended preventive medicines for this area (Wilcox & Russell 2003).

Moving north towards the Sahara, malaria transmission becomes seasonal but remains intense, with most infections being contracted during or shortly after the rainy season. Inland, chloroquine resistance is patchy but widespread. Closer to the Sahara the high-risk season becomes shorter. In particular, most cases in the Gambia are contracted between June and December. Mefloquine or doxycycline or Malarone are the medicines of choice for the Gambia, and for most of sub-Saharan Africa, because of ...