MALARIA; prevention, a key approach.
Malaria, the old time killer disease kills nearly one million people yearly. About eighty five percent of this are children under five years of age. Africa is the most affected by malaria about 80% of cases, though it is still of significance concern in Asia and Latin America. A multifacet approach at different levels is the main stay to eradication, prevention and treatment of malaria.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa called, plasmodium, a microorganism of different types. This micro-organism carried or transmitted by a vector, called anopheles mosquito.
We always hear “prevention is better than cure”. As old as it may, this is still valid till tomorrow. Prevention is the most trusted and reliable approach to the managing the age long crisis, malaria. This is the trick. Eradication or at least reduction in population of mosquito reduces the chances of mosquito bites. Reduction in or avoidance of mosquito bites profers reduction in chances of infection and eventual malaria fever.
Treating malaria accounts for 40% public health expenditure and 25% of household income. This means that alot of resource that could be well channelled into some more useful venture are been spent on either drugs or other adjunts to treat an infected person. This makes prevention very indispensible in dealing the menace of malaria.
The prevention of malaria has to begin with the proper public enlightenment. This enlightenment should include the lifecycle and habitat of the vector, mosquito, personal and environmental hygeine, the proper use of Insecticide Treated Nets, etc. Let us try to focus on the things we can do by and for ourselves rather than waiting for a policy or reform like forever. Envaronmental sanitation, a public health, self reliant approach to eradicating malaria tells us more. Watchout for the next publication.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa called, plasmodium, a microorganism of different types. This micro-organism carried or transmitted by a vector, called anopheles mosquito.
We always hear “prevention is better than cure”. As old as it may, this is still valid till tomorrow. Prevention is the most trusted and reliable approach to the managing the age long crisis, malaria. This is the trick. Eradication or at least reduction in population of mosquito reduces the chances of mosquito bites. Reduction in or avoidance of mosquito bites profers reduction in chances of infection and eventual malaria fever.
Treating malaria accounts for 40% public health expenditure and 25% of household income. This means that alot of resource that could be well channelled into some more useful venture are been spent on either drugs or other adjunts to treat an infected person. This makes prevention very indispensible in dealing the menace of malaria.
The prevention of malaria has to begin with the proper public enlightenment. This enlightenment should include the lifecycle and habitat of the vector, mosquito, personal and environmental hygeine, the proper use of Insecticide Treated Nets, etc. Let us try to focus on the things we can do by and for ourselves rather than waiting for a policy or reform like forever. Envaronmental sanitation, a public health, self reliant approach to eradicating malaria tells us more. Watchout for the next publication.
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