FACTS ABOUT MALARIA
What is Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood to nurture her eggs.
 The
human impact of Malaria
Malaria is the most important parasitic
disease in the world. It causes as many as 1.5 million deaths
each year, with up to 500 million clinical episodes, the majority
in sub-Saharan Africa.
Children under five years and pregnant women bear the major burden of the disease as a result of immature and weakened immunity respectively. In Africa, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. Those who survive it may suffer from anaemia and cerebral complications that affect long-term development
Malaria and HIV/AIDS
The interaction between HIV and malaria in adults is now well documented and is of particular concern in sub-Saharan Africa where both diseases show a significant degree of geographical overlap. Co-infection is associated with severe forms of malaria and death. Certain anti-malarial therapies also appear less effective among HIV-infected adults. Furthermore, acute malaria episodes result in elevated HIV viral loads. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to HIV and malaria co-infection, suffering more episodes of the disease and adverse birth outcomes.
The economic impact of Malaria
Malaria is now recognised as a disease
of poverty. Infection leads to a reduction in community and
household productivity and income generation. In addition,
it results in significant levels of household expenditure
(up to 25% of available income) for treatment and prevention.
It is estimated that malaria costs Africa US$12 billion annually
in lost Gross Domestic Product.
OTHER FACTS
The blood-thirsty mosquito is Africa’s most feared killer registering more than 10,000 times the total of deaths caused by wild animals such as the famous lion and leopard.
Bednets reduce deaths from malaria by 44 per cent
Poverty is a major barrier to owning a $5 bednet.
In Africa, malaria kills a child every 30 seconds, that’s 3,000 every day.
Children and pregnant women are high risk groups
In endemic areas, repeated bouts of malaria can result in children losing as much as 60 per cent of school time.
Malaria accounts for 40 per cent of public health expenditures, 30–50 per cent of inpatient hospital admissions, and up to 50 per cent of outpatient visits in areas with high transmission.
Malaria is a human-rights priority because inequities in access to malaria prevention and treatment services are discriminatory towards persons of lower socioeconomic status.
Acute malaria infection increases viral load in HIV infected people.
Malaria’s affects socioeconomic development in the hardest-hit developing regions, challenges democratic development, and contributes to humanitarian emergencies and civil conflicts.
The malaria parasite is immune to the antimalarial drugs currently used in most African health systems. |
