The “World Malaria Day” commemoration discusses the efforts to eradicate malaria. It is held on April 25th each year globally. This day especially serves as a day of awareness, diagnosis, treatment, preventive actions, and implementation to eradicate malaria. In this article, we discuss malaria, diagnosis, treatment, innovations in prevention, and the ongoing challenges and need for continued global collaboration and investment in malaria.
Theme: “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.”
The theme suggests equity, access to healthcare, and the impact of climate change on malaria transmission could be relevant considerations.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by transmitting infectious parasites through the bites of infected mosquitoes—the parasites belonging to malaria cause plasmodium genesis. Malaria is curable and preventable. The affected mosquito transmits the malaria parasites through injection, which infects the red blood cells and later causes the symptoms and complications of malaria.
What causes malaria?
Malaria is caused by an infection that is affected by a parasite called the plasmodium parasite, and some of the primary reasons for the spread of the disease are mentioned as follows:
- Female mosquitoes, called “Anopheloes” in certain species, transmit malaria parasites. These thrive primarily in tropical and subtropical countries.
- Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall promote mosquito breeding.
- The inadequate usage of mosquito protection measures such as bed nets and mosquito repellents and the lack of healthcare services contribute to the risk of spreading and transmitting malaria.
Objectives of World Malaria Day
Raising awareness –
This day is important for discussing the importance of malaria and its symptoms. It raises awareness among the public, and the day also marks great achievements in the fight against malaria and highlights the efforts and prevention measures taken.
Promoting research and innovation –
The day prominently promotes strategies to control malaria and advocates prevention steps towards eradication. It also promotes recent innovations and technology-driven treatments for the treatment and cure of malaria.
Support treatment
This particular day gathers locals, nationals, and public policies to advocate new treatments, prescribe medications (chemoprophylaxis), and take environmental management measures to reduce mosquito breeding by adequate steps. It encourages health professionals to adopt evidence-based treatment measures. Contribution of medical services involving pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Promoting disease prevention
The primary goal of “World Malaria Day” is to advocate for elimination, prevention, and disease-free nations. It calls for research and innovations, drug development services, community engagement, sustained investment goals, and achieving a malaria-free nation and world. It encourages multisectoral collaborations, community engagements, and other global eradication efforts.
Treatment options for malaria
It is essential to take treatment measures according to drug-resistant patterns, including factors involved in drug treatment and their preventive reactions. Malaria treatments involve proper prevention steps and medications.
With early treatment, most people will make a complete recovery.
The treatment for individuals with the disease includes.
- Medication for the removal of the parasites from the bloodstream.
- Supportive care
- Treatment in hospitals for those with severe symptoms
- Requirement of intensive care in some cases.
Here are a few main antimalarial drugs :
- Chloroquine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Artemisinin-based therapy
- Atovaquone-proguanil
- Primaquine
- Mefloquine
- Tafenoquine
- Doxycyclin
The Global Progress
- There is increased accessibility to treatment, and most people are now able to access many life-saving medications, resulting in the efficiency of people’s care.
- With sustained efforts, malaria cases have decreased globally.
- Innovative prevention with the application of cutting-edge preventive techniques has been attributed to the decrease in the spread of malaria.
Conclusion
World Malaria Day 2024 is the global force against malaria, which delivers a compelling and illuminating discourse that emphasizes the critical importance of collaborative efforts to eradicate this deadly disease.
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