By Charlotte Follari, Norma Quintanilla, and Emily Shambaugh Malaria is one of the world’s most widespread and deadly infectious diseases, with nearly half of the world’s population at risk of exposure. One of the major barriers to effective malaria control, and the reason why it remains such an entrenched public health problem, is that risk of exposure, and access to control interventions, … [Read more...]
G6PD and Malaria
Question: I have a G6PD and I'm traveling to Nigeria They have told me that i have to get the vaccine Can I get it or is there any alternative for it? Answer: There is no commercially available vaccine for malaria so you should check with your medical practitioner to which vaccine he or she is referring. If you have G6PD, you should be able to take most common forms of medication used to … [Read more...]
World Malaria Day 2014 – How Best to Invest in Malaria Prevention and Control
Each year, World Malaria Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the current status of the fight against malaria. We are in the middle year of the World Malaria Day theme of “Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria," which is set to last until 2015. Funding for malaria control and prevention, as with all international public health endeavors, has always been perceived as a critical issue, but … [Read more...]
Mobile Technology Used to Fight Malaria Drug Counterfeiting
African Social Enterprise mPedigree Networks has been running a program in Nigeria and Ghana that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of anti-malaria drugs by using mobile phone SMS technology. With the new service, patients taking a range of medication and send a free text message to get an instant response as to whether the medications are genuine. Counterfeit medicines often contain … [Read more...]
ECOWAS Program to Eradicate Malaria
QUESTION Why can I find no mention on your website of the ECOWAS program to eradicate malaria in their countries? ANSWER Thanks for bringing up ECOWAS. Since 2011, ECOWAS leaders have signaled a commitment to eradicating malaria in their region by 2015, and pilot programs are already underway in several countries, including Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. The program has centered on the use … [Read more...]
URGENT HELP ON MALARIA
QUESTION I 25 yr old male from Lagos, Nigeria. I have been having frequent malaria since 2006 till present. My symptoms are always weakness of the body, feeling cold sometimes not always and also my mouth got better most cases. I have been to the hospital several times and the doctor told me my frequent malaria is because my blood genotype is AA and also am having a malaria parasites. I was … [Read more...]
What to do while on malaria medication
QUESTION Good day, I'm a 27yr old male currently in Nigeria. I would like to know my do's and don'ts while on malaria medication. I ask this so I know what to forego in my athletic lifestyle- I visit the gym 3-4 times a week and have recently started horse riding. ANSWER There isn't any restriction on the kinds of activities you can enjoy while on malaria medication! You should be able to … [Read more...]
Free Medical Care for Malaria
QUESTION Can you get free medical help for someone In Nigeria that has malaria? ANSWER Theoretically, the Nigerian government should provide basic services, including malaria diagnosis, through primary care clinics which are administered by local government. In addition, Nigeria has recently instituted a National Health Insurance program, which again should assist in providing health care … [Read more...]
Malaria in Africa
QUESTION How many in Africa have been affected by Malaria? ANSWER In 2010, there were approximately 174 million cases of malaria in Africa. However, some people may present with more than one case of malaria per year (especially young children), so the number of people affected is likely considerably lower. However, 90% of deaths from malaria occur in Africa, and 60% in just six … [Read more...]
Celebral Malaria and Blindness
QUESTION I live in Nigeria. Good friend of mine complained of headaches in Dec 2011. Did an MRI went to Germany had a general check up. Back in Nigeria in January, headaches increase, she gets blind in one eye, following day the other eye, now in Germany where they have induced her into a coma. They said that she got a brain Haemorrage from the malaria. Can malaria bring blindness. What are the … [Read more...]