The Great Debate UK
Toll of malaria high for African women
– Ray Chambers is a philanthropist and humanitarian who has directed most of his efforts towards children. In 2008, the U.N. Secretary-General appointed him as his first Special Envoy for Malaria. The views expressed are his own. –
Malaria infects one quarter of a billion people each year. Nearly one million of those afflicted die, taxing overburdened health infrastructures and decreasing productivity in Africa, where 90 percent of cases occur.
In some countries on the continent, 60 percent of all outpatient visits are malaria related, with one quarter of worker absenteeism due to the disease. Taking all lost time and productivity into consideration, malaria costs Africa more than $30 billion annually.
The mosquito carrying the deadly malaria parasite makes no distinction when choosing its victim. Young or old, male or female, everyone in endemic regions remains at risk; however, International Women’s Day on March 8th prompts us to examine independently the immense burden women shoulder as a result of malaria.
The disease strikes infants, children under five and pregnant women in astonishing disproportion, as these segments of the population account for 90 percent of malaria deaths. Given the dual role of women as both victim and primary protector of victims, malaria clearly belongs under the umbrella of traditional women’s health issues.
It deserves particular recognition as a priority in maternal health, which the World Health Organization defines as pregnancy, childbirth and the six-week postpartum period.
An estimated 1 million people die of malaria – over 2700 deaths per day, or 2 deaths per minute, in Sub-Saharan Africa. About 90% of all malaria deaths in the world today occur in Africa south of the Sahara. This is because the majority of infections in Africa are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous of the four human malaria parasites. It is also because the most effective malaria vector – the mosquito Anopheles gambiae – is the most widespread in Africa and the most difficult to control. An estimated one million people in Africa die from malaria each year and most of these are children under 5 years old.
There are three principal ways in which malaria can contribute to death in young children:
1. An overwhelming acute infection, which frequently presents as seizures or coma (cerebral malaria), may kill a child directly and quickly
2. Repeated malaria infections contribute to the development of severe anaemia, which substantially increases the risk of death
3. Low birth weight – frequently the consequence of malaria infection in pregnant women – is the major risk factor for death in the first month of life
VPWA, a grassroot from Ghana dubbed by UN is currently organizing a malarial campaign in west Africa. Campaign KMO will start in Ghana with Volunteers from all over the world, including medical professionals, students, educators and various professions.
Please visit our website http://kmo2009.vpwa.org/
or you may contact us at:
Phone: 233243340112
Email: kmo2009@vpwa.org