To most of us, mosquitos may seem like an annoying summertime pest, but a bite can be deadly in other parts of the world, particularly Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) organized World Malaria Day to raise awareness about malaria.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes and is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Malaria is preventable and curable with early diagnosis and treatment. The Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) accounts for 11% of global malaria deaths, with 60% of all hospital visits in the country attributed to malaria.
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The Friends of IMCK invests in health care by providing financial support to the Christian Medical Institute of Kasai (IMCK) in Congo through an Endowment Fund. IMCK includes the Good Shepherd Hospital and PAX clinic.IMCK's response to malaria consists of distributing insecticide-treated nets at preschool and pre-natal consultations, and they seek to do more. IMCK currently does not have anti-malarial medicine due to supply shortages, and Congo does not have access to the malaria vaccine yet – both are on the IMCK "wish list." We thank IMCK for the prevention and treatment they provide to people in Kananga and the Kasai Region.
How can you observe World Malaria Day?
· Share this post on social media
· "Like" the Friends of IMCK page on Facebook
· Consider donating to IMCK at https://www.imck.org/donate
There were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria in 2021. The WHO African Region carries a tremendous malaria burden. In 2020, this Region was home to 95% and 96% of malaria cases and deaths, respectively. More than 600,000 people still die of malaria yearly. Children under five are most vulnerable. They account for 80% of all malaria deaths in this Region. In the DRC, malaria accounts for 20% of deaths in children under age 5. Children with severe malaria frequently develop one or more symptoms: severe anemia, respiratory distress, or cerebral malaria. In adults, multi-organ failure is also frequent.
Vector control is a vital component of malaria control. Two approaches are insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor spraying. Emerging resistance to insecticides among mosquitoes threatens the progress in malaria control. Other issues include insufficient access to nets and changes to mosquito behavior, which appear to bite earlier before people go to bed.
The WHO has set ambitious global targets, including reducing malaria cases by at least 90% by 2030, reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030, and eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030. However, declines in the effectiveness of malaria-fighting tools compound the challenge of malaria control. Rising resistance to insecticide-treated nets and anti-malarial drugs is a significant concern – particularly in Africa.
New technologies include a new generation of nets to combat mosquito resistance. New diagnostics and innovations in malaria medicines are in the pipeline. Sub-Saharan African doctors began immunizing children three years ago with the first malaria vaccine. Experts predict the vaccine could save the lives of tens of thousands of children yearly. Investing in primary health care is also critical to the response to malaria.
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