Plasmodium infection commonly referred to as Malaria is a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
It's severity is of varying degrees based on the specie of plasmodium responsible for the infection. Five species of Plasmodium have the ability to infect humans; Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malaria, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi.
Malaria is both preventable and curable. Early symptoms include fever, headache and general body weakness. If left untreated, malaria can progress to severe illness and death.
Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo account for half of the world's yearly malaria deaths. The more reason why efforts should be intensified in these countries to curb the number of malaria infections yearly.
While early detection is important in order to get prompt medical care, prevention through the use of vector control mechanisms is strongly advised. Indoor residual spraying and the use of insecticide treated nets; while the World Health Organisation reports antimalaria drugs resistance and Anopheles mosquitoes resistance as the threat to ending the malaria scourge, it(WHO) also urges the use artemisinin-based combination therapy(ACT) in the treatment of malaria.
The Global Malaria Program has set a target of achieving the following objectives by 2030:
- Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030.
- Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.
- Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030.
- Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.
The global effort to eliminate deaths from malaria is an ongoing process and requires the support of government at all levels(in the affected regions) and the citizens. The world Malaria day celebrated on April 25 each year serves to continuously draw awareness, that more has to be done.
Article written by Enenim Ubon.
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