Malaria is a communicable disease that is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria causing micro-organisms belong to the genus Plasmodium (video). Species that affect humans are P. malariae, P. ovale, P. falciparum, P. knowlesie and P. vivax. When an infected mosquito bites, it transmits the micro-organism, through saliva, into the host’s bloodstream. It travels down to the liver where it matures and reproduces. Symptoms of malaria typically include fever, nausea, diarrhea, muscle ache, headache and fatigue. In severe cases it may result in coma or death. Malaria was and still remains to be a global health crisis. Malaria is known to be an ancient disease (watch video). Symptoms of malaria were first mentioned by a Chinese medical writings. A Susruta (Sanskrit medical treatise) mentions the symptoms and related the disease to insect bites, while the Romans related it to the swamps. Malaria today is a preventable disease that can be diagnosed and cured.
Today, climate remains the primary factor in malaria development. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “minimum temperature for parasite development of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax approximates 18°C and 15°C, respectively,” (15°C is 59°F). This gives colder regions an advantage at not contracting malaria. Biomed Central claims temperature as the leading factor of malaria increase, while precipitation and humidity may be additional factors that affect that spread of malaria. The leading factor was still temperatures as they affect both the mosquito and the parasite. Sites including African Portal claim global warming is spreading malaria through higher temperatures in multiple regions.
In addition to the warm climate, there are many risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of becoming infected with malaria in Uganda. Malaria is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Some risk factors include: pregnancy status; having a weakened immune system (HIV/AIDS); and being a young child. Women who are pregnant are four times more likely to suffer from malaria than when they are not pregnant. Other risk factors include lack of education, having limited access to health care, and living in extreme poverty. Not only does living in poverty increase risk for malaria, malaria is also the number one cause of poverty in Uganda. Once a person is infected, malaria impacts their everyday life; they cannot work, they have to pay for treatment, prevention, transportation, and possibly funeral/burial costs associated with the infection.Children under the age of five years old are most at risk for malaria in Uganda, and it’s the leading cause of death for this age group as well. This is such a huge problem for the inhabitants of this country. So what is the Ugandan government doing to help? What can everyone there do to help their households?
Some of the things that organizations and the Ugandan government is doing to help prevent and treat malaria are: promoting the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying and reducing possible sites for mosquito breeding through environment management. ITNs are very important to have, especially at night because that’s when transmission of malaria occurs. Also, spraying insecticide indoors, such as on the walls, also helps reduce the rate of malaria by killing mosquitoes. The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) works together with the Uganda’s national malaria control strategy. The PMI aids Uganda by providing intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP); and diagnosis with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) or microscopy and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
There is no vaccine available right now to prevent malaria. Doctors and scientists around the world are still trying to make one. The prevention techniques and treatments that are available to people in Africa right now is a great start! Today, malaria rates in Uganda are dropping due to a lot of outside governmental funding and organizations handing out free mosquito nets that have insecticide on them. In order for this country to thrive, malaria must be controlled. Ten million missed days at schools are due to children being sick with malaria. Malaria can also cause lasting learning disabilities.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Malaria was eradicated from the United States in 1951 but clearly continues to be a devastating problem around the world, especially in Uganda . In efforts to reduce the growing rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, the WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Bank launched the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership 1998. Today the RBM partnership is the strongest global alliance working towards minimizing the incidences of Malaria and its subsequent health burden. Working with over 500 partners, including the CDC, Malaria-endemic countries, private sector, non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral developers, as well as scientific and academic institutions, the RBM partnership continuously strives to eliminate Malaria from the 106 countries and territories that are currently battling the disease.
Written by Masters of the Universe: Adrienne Farrel, Cassy Hodges, Ja'Meeshia Lea, Medha Patel and Trevor Tiernan
Wow, great article, I really appreciate your thought process and having it explained properly, thank you!
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