Back and Next - Back and NextCount malaria out
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Editorial
We are once again warming up to the commemoration of World Malaria Day. Such occasions are more than mere celebrations; they should be utilized in the most efficient way to develop sustainable measures that can finally roll back malaria. With the theme of this year’s commemoration "Count malaria out," we hope that those at the fore in the fight against the disease are cognizant of the pressing need to eliminate malaria particularly among women and children.
The fact remains that malaria is by far the world's most important disease, and kills more people than any other disease except tuberculosis. In many developing countries and in Africa especially, malaria exacts an enormous toll in lives, in medical costs, and in day-off labour losses. And today, approximately 40% of the world's population, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk.
Malaria parasites are developing unacceptable levels of resistance to one drug after another and many insecticides are no longer useful against mosquitoes transmitting the disease. Years of vaccine research have produced few hopeful candidates and although scientists are intensifying the search, an effective vaccine is at best years away.
Science still has no magic bullet for malaria and many doubt that such a single solution will ever exist. Nevertheless, we have to expand the use of the effective low-cost strategies available for its treatment, prevention and control. Mosquito nets treated with insecticide reduce malaria transmission.
Prevention of malaria in pregnant women, through measures such as Intermittent Preventive Treatment and the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), results in improvement in maternal health, infant health and survival. Prompt access to treatment with effective up-to-date medicine, such as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), saves lives. We therefore have to use this year’s occasion to contemplate on strategies that can permit us to apply these and other measures on a wider scale and monitor them, so that the burden of malaria will be significantly reduced.
The Department of State for Health, the National Malaria Control Program, the Roll Back Malaria Campaign and a host of other organisations in the fight against malaria are undoubtedly struggling hard to put the malaria parasite under control. However, much needs to be done particularly on the part of the populace. The change of attitude of the people with regards to sanitation and the promotion of a clean environment will aid greatly in the fight against malaria. Awareness campaigns should therefore be organised in a manner that will allow the message to filter down to the grassroots. It is through such mechanisms that we can register glory in the "Count malaria out" battle.
We therefore call on the parties involved to forge ahead in engendering sustainable programmes that can ensure the elimination of malaria.
We are once again warming up to the commemoration of World Malaria Day. Such occasions are more than mere celebrations; they should be utilized in the most efficient way to develop sustainable measures that can finally roll back malaria. With the theme of this year’s commemoration "Count malaria out," we hope that those at the fore in the fight against the disease are cognizant of the pressing need to eliminate malaria particularly among women and children.
The fact remains that malaria is by far the world's most important disease, and kills more people than any other disease except tuberculosis. In many developing countries and in Africa especially, malaria exacts an enormous toll in lives, in medical costs, and in day-off labour losses. And today, approximately 40% of the world's population, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk.
Malaria parasites are developing unacceptable levels of resistance to one drug after another and many insecticides are no longer useful against mosquitoes transmitting the disease. Years of vaccine research have produced few hopeful candidates and although scientists are intensifying the search, an effective vaccine is at best years away.
Science still has no magic bullet for malaria and many doubt that such a single solution will ever exist. Nevertheless, we have to expand the use of the effective low-cost strategies available for its treatment, prevention and control. Mosquito nets treated with insecticide reduce malaria transmission.
Prevention of malaria in pregnant women, through measures such as Intermittent Preventive Treatment and the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), results in improvement in maternal health, infant health and survival. Prompt access to treatment with effective up-to-date medicine, such as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), saves lives. We therefore have to use this year’s occasion to contemplate on strategies that can permit us to apply these and other measures on a wider scale and monitor them, so that the burden of malaria will be significantly reduced.
The Department of State for Health, the National Malaria Control Program, the Roll Back Malaria Campaign and a host of other organisations in the fight against malaria are undoubtedly struggling hard to put the malaria parasite under control. However, much needs to be done particularly on the part of the populace. The change of attitude of the people with regards to sanitation and the promotion of a clean environment will aid greatly in the fight against malaria. Awareness campaigns should therefore be organised in a manner that will allow the message to filter down to the grassroots. It is through such mechanisms that we can register glory in the "Count malaria out" battle.
We therefore call on the parties involved to forge ahead in engendering sustainable programmes that can ensure the elimination of malaria.
Author: DO
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