World Malaria Day : Know about Malaria and Save yourself from Malaria
Malaria
kills a child every minute! Read this article on World Malaria Day to know more
about malaria and join the fight against the endemic disease.
World
Malaria day is observed every year on 25 April to spread awareness about
Malaria. It is an occasion to draw attention towards the need for continuous
investment and constant political commitment for the prevention and control of malaria.
Malaria
remains both a chief cause and an outcome of global poverty and inequality. Its
burden is greatest in the least developed areas and among the poorest members
of society. Many of those at the highest risk, especially children and pregnant
women are still deprived of life-saving prevention, diagnosis and treatment
they immediately need.
BackgroundMalaria is a
serious disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. Plasmodium completes its
life cycle in two hosts; mosquitoes and humans. When an infected mosquito bites
a human being, he gets infected. Although, Malaria is a major cause of death
worldwide, it is mostly a problem in developing countries with warm climates.
Travelling to these countries can increase your risk of getting infected by the
parasite.
Malaria
symptoms include:
Chills
flu-like symptoms
fever
vomiting
diarrhea
jaundice
Diagnosis is
performed by carrying out a blood test in which the Malaria parasites are
identified by examining patient’s blood under microscope.
Malaria is
an entirely preventable and treatable disease. The type of drugs to be used for
treatment depends on which kind of malaria you have and the place where you
were infected.
Malaria is
widespread in tropical and subtropical regions around the equator, including
much part of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In India, it occurs throughout the
year across the country. However, it is more rampant during and after the rainy
season owed to mosquito breeding.
According to
World Health Organization (WHO), 77% of the total malaria cases in Southeast
Asia are from India. The disease is mainly prevalent in the states of Chhattisgarh,
Southern Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, and
Goa and in northeastern states.
2017 Theme: End Malaria For Good
World
Malaria Day is an opportunity to highlight the global effort to control malaria.
This year’s theme is “End malaria for good" which generates the idea of a
malaria-free world set out in the "Global technical strategy for malaria
2016-2030". In May 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted the strategy which
aims to significantly lower the worldwide malaria burden over the next 15
years.
Although,
ending malaria for good is a steadfast target, it is also achievable. WHO
remains dedicated to working with member countries and partner organizations to
battle against the intimidating disease and to elevate its burden from the
South-East Asia Region.
We can be
the generation that ends malaria, one of the oldest and deadliest diseases on
the earth. We must end malaria for good. We must upgrade and uphold region-wide
anti-malaria efforts.
“Malaria is
a preventable and treatable disease. Every citizen of India must join
government in Global Malaria Program to reduce the burden of the disease in the
community. Prevention approach such as insect site spraying, use of mosquito
nets, preventive medicine and other innovative tools must be taught at the
school level. Let’s pledge to make India Malaria Free by 2030”, says Dr. S
Chakravorty, Senior Consultant – Internal Medicine, Metro Hospitals & Heart
Institute, Noida
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