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The tragedy behind these figures is that, of Europe and north America. However, unchecked. Compounded by lack of spraying,
arguably, it already has. Malaria is a mostly public healthcare measures helped to poor education and poor distribution
preventable, and treatable, illness. The problem eliminate the problem. In sub-Saharan Africa, mechanisms for drugs, countries are facing an
is getting the right treatments to the right for example, the necessary infrastructure and explosive challenge.
people. funding was not allocated, and so in recent A lack of health infrastructure impacts on
decades we have witnessed rising numbers of malaria treatments in other ways too. In order
Malaria Explained cases. to tackle a disease of this size, it is critical to
Malaria is found in tropical areas such as Sub- One of the reasons malaria has become monitor how often people are affected, how
Saharan Africa, Central and South America such a problem is drug resistance. they are treated, and how successful
and Southern Asia. In 2006, an estimated 247 Plasmodium falciparum has gradually become treatments are. It’s only that way that the
million people were infected with malaria resistant to many of the drugs used to treat impact of malaria control can be measured
worldwide. Of these, 86% were in Africa. malaria, including chloroquine and some and the correct strategies employed.
Malaria can be caused by any of four types antibiotics. There are still effective ways to The WHO-run Global Malaria Programme
of parasite belonging to the Plasmodium treat it, however. The WHO now recommends also aims to help coordinate such efforts. It’s
family. It is spread between people by the bites a cocktail of related drugs, called artemisins, clear that cooperation between many different
of infected mosquitoes. Plasmodium to treat malaria. By using a combination of nations, on many levels - from the private
falciparum, a tiny algae-like creature, passes artemisins (which are derived from a sector, to governments and to healthcare
into your liver where it grows. When traditional Chinese medicine), successful professionals around the world - will be
developed, it returns to your bloodstream to treatment is more likely, and the parasite is needed to defeat malaria.
cause malaria. The main symptoms are fever, less likely to survive and evolve drug The UN Secretary general Ban Ki-Moon
but it regularly kills by overwhelming the resistance. However, few nations that are recently called for ‘at risk’ populations to have
body’s ability to mount a response to its attack affected by malaria can afford it on a large appropriate interventions for prevention and
in the brain and other organs. scale. case management by 2010. Combating malaria
The World Health Organization (WHO) In addition to drugs for treating malaria, won’t just save lives, it will reduce poverty.
Global Malaria Programme is responsible for there are medicines that reduce the risk of Less people with malaria means more people
monitoring malaria around the world, and catching it. These will be familiar to can work, and more children can attend
developing strategies to combat it. Westerners who travel to malarial regions, and school. This will bring economic benefits for
offer vital protection from the disease. The everyone.
Tackling the disease WHO also recommends these for intermittent So, is there hope for the future?
There are already effective methods for use in pregnant women in affected countries, Ultimately, money and politics play as big a
tackling malaria. They have identified several who are more at risk from serious role as science in the failure for malaria to be
steps which, when used together, can help complications of malaria. But again, cost is an eradicated. But there are reasons to be
reduce the burden of malaria. The most overriding factor for many nations in Africa. positive. According to the WHO 2008 Global
simple of these are mosquito nets treated with Populations can sometimes have sudden Malaria report, many countries that have
insecticide. By preventing mosquito bites, surges in malaria. These surges - epidemics - adopted their recommendations have
treated nets are a cheap and effective way to can occur for many reasons. Sometimes a experienced a recent drop in malaria cases.
curb the disease. Insecticidal treated nets have Plasmodium parasite is introduced to a new In some countries in the Americas, south-
become more common but there are still far area where nobody has any immunity to it. east Asia and the western Pacific malaria has
too few of them in most countries affected by This can happen after changing wet weather fallen as much as 50% since 2000. And in
malaria. Much of the problem lies not in patterns, as mosquitoes breed in wet 2007, the United Arab Emirates succeeding in
affording the $5 net, but in the casual view conditions. being the first country since the 1980s to be
many countries have of using nets. They are Migration of people from one area of a certified malaria free. With a concerted effort,
not an integrated part of everyday life, and country, for example high altitude areas where it's hoped that one day many more countries
education of their benefit plays as important a malaria is rare, to low lying regions, where could join this list.
role as funding for their purchase. malaria is common, can cause large groups to So I go away with hope in my heart that the
Another effective way of controlling malaria be affected by malaria. This pattern has been world can be changed, and that maybe that
is the use of insecticide sprays. Developing seen to happen after floods or other natural next little girl can get to live her life without
countries are being encouraged to use sprays disasters. succumbing to this so tragic example of one
on waterways where mosquitoes breed and The political landscape in sub-Saharan of the world’s curable diseases.
produce larvae; insecticides can also be used Africa plays a big part in the ongoing malaria
indoors to limit the number of mosquitoes burden. Armed conflicts and civil unrest can
that can bite. force populations to move or settle under Dr Sneh Khemka, MBChB, MRCOphth, FICS
But combating malaria needs national difficult conditions where malaria is common. Medical Director, Bupa International.
coordination, training and funding that isn’t And poor healthcare systems, without the For more information on Bupa International’s
always available in the countries affected. As funds to provide the necessary treatment, have healthcare policies, please go to www.bupa-
recently as 60 years ago, malaria affected parts allowed the malaria problem to grow intl.com or call +44 (0) 1273 718304.
www.investmentinternational.com May 2009 Investment International
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