Public Health Impact on the Control of Malaria in Sub - Saharan Africa
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT ON THE CONTROL OF MALARIA IN SUB - SAHARAN AFRICA
The prevalence of malaria in sub Saharan Africa remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the continent. The epidemic possesses a major threat to the economic development and public health. The Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara, majority of the countries lie along the tropics thus allowing a favourable climatic condition for the survival and reproduction of the vector of this killer disease.
The pandemic outbreak of malaria several decades ago, before the advent of the Millennium development goals (MDGs), claimed so much lives in Africa. This was greatly influenced by poverty, poor education, lack of health care facilities, and poor access to the few available. This posed a major hindrance to the development and productivity of the continent. Following an era of neglect, the imperative need to control the rising epidemic is now of top priority to the international health community. Combating malaria will help in the achievement of three of the MDGs. (1. combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 2. reducing child mortality rates, 3. eradicating extreme poverty and hunger). In accordance to the Almata declaration and the Bangkok charter, control of malaria is now a major political agenda of most of the world’s wealthiest countries.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY`
Malaria has been a major transmittable disease that has tormented the whole world but with more long-lasting prevalence in Africa. Early in the 19th century, 90% of the world’s population were at risk of malaria, during the half of the 19th century, a drastic reduction in the prevalence and incidence of malaria was seen in large populace of northern and central Europe, and North America. This was associated with improvement in Agricultural land use and housing. At the latter end of the 19th century, the plasmodium parasite, its vector
The prevalence of malaria in sub Saharan Africa remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the continent. The epidemic possesses a major threat to the economic development and public health. The Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara, majority of the countries lie along the tropics thus allowing a favourable climatic condition for the survival and reproduction of the vector of this killer disease.
The pandemic outbreak of malaria several decades ago, before the advent of the Millennium development goals (MDGs), claimed so much lives in Africa. This was greatly influenced by poverty, poor education, lack of health care facilities, and poor access to the few available. This posed a major hindrance to the development and productivity of the continent. Following an era of neglect, the imperative need to control the rising epidemic is now of top priority to the international health community. Combating malaria will help in the achievement of three of the MDGs. (1. combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 2. reducing child mortality rates, 3. eradicating extreme poverty and hunger). In accordance to the Almata declaration and the Bangkok charter, control of malaria is now a major political agenda of most of the world’s wealthiest countries.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY`
Malaria has been a major transmittable disease that has tormented the whole world but with more long-lasting prevalence in Africa. Early in the 19th century, 90% of the world’s population were at risk of malaria, during the half of the 19th century, a drastic reduction in the prevalence and incidence of malaria was seen in large populace of northern and central Europe, and North America. This was associated with improvement in Agricultural land use and housing. At the latter end of the 19th century, the plasmodium parasite, its vector
References: needed 2012). All these non-human factors contribute greatly to the survival and thriving of mosquito and a corresponding rise in the prevalence of morbidity and mortality of malaria in sub Saharan Africa. Adapted from Malaria: progress, perils, and prospects for eradication. Designed by (Mikolajczak et al., 2006).