In most African countries, pharmaceutical drugs are poorly regulated or not regulated at all, posing huge risks for those who depend on them to stay healthy. But for the first time, the topic has gotten the attention of African officials, who holding a scientific conference on the topic in South Africa. Access to safe and effective medicine can be touch and go in Africa, where the market … [Read more...]
SMS for Life Uses Mobile Phones to Increase Access to Essential Antimalaria Medications
SMS for Life harnesses everyday technology to improve access to essential malaria medicines in rural areas of developing countries. It uses a combination of mobile phones, SMS messages and electronic mapping technology to track weekly stock levels at public health facilities in order to: Eliminate stock-outs Increase access to essential medicines Reduce the number of deaths from … [Read more...]
How Malaria Parasites Stick to Sides of Blood Vessels
Researchers have identified how malaria parasites growing inside red blood cells stick to the sides of blood vessels in severe cases of malaria. The discovery may advance the development of vaccines or drugs to combat severe malaria by stopping the parasites attaching to blood vessels. The results are now published in the scientific journal Nature. Though researchers have known for over a … [Read more...]
Malaria Testing
QUESTION My daughter is in Kigoma, Tanzania and has the symptoms of Malaria. She was given Duo Cotecxin and it seems to have started making her feel better. But after reading up on all the different types of Malaria parasites I am wondering if a blood test reading at a clinic would be recommended or is it too late for an accurate reading now that she is on meds? ANSWER I am always very … [Read more...]
Malaria Deaths by Country
QUESTION Where are the most deaths of malaria? ANSWER Over 90% of the deaths from malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and in children under the age of five. According to the World Health Organisation's 2011 World Malaria Report, the countries with the five highest numbers of reported malaria deaths for 2010 are (and number of reported deaths): Kenya (26,017 deaths), Democratic Republic … [Read more...]
Where There is No Medicine, Let Alone a Doctor
Remote or poorly accessible communities create special challenges for delivery of health care. There were goats in my classroom this morning. Quite adorable kids, but unfortunately not the right species for my health survey. The school is located in Bunda District, sandwiched between Lake Victoria and the long western arm of Serengeti National Park, which stops only a few kilometers from the … [Read more...]
“SMS for Life” Malaria Initiative for Tanzania Announced
In commemoration of World Malaria Day 2011 (25 April), organizations in an innovative public-private initiative announce the nationwide roll-out of a unique malaria treatment access initiative, "SMS for Life," across the United Republic of Tanzania. The roll-out follows a successful pilot project where mobile and electronic mapping technology was used to track the stock levels of anti-malarial … [Read more...]
African Leaders Malaria Alliance Receives $250K Grant to Help Fight Malaria
The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), an alliance of 39 African leaders, has been awarded a $250,000 grant to help with its campaign to combat malaria. ALMA, chaired by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and recently elected Deputy Chair, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, was launched in 2009 as a collaborative effort for African leaders to work together with the African … [Read more...]
Climate Change Brings Increased Malaria Threat to Tanzania Highlands
Tanzania’s southern highlanders have long worried about pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses brought on by the cool, wet weather. But as climate change contributes to warmer temperatures in the region, residents are facing a new health threat: malaria. … [Read more...]
Malaria Drug Tariff’s Hindering Malaria Relief
The Malaria Taxes and Tariffs Advocacy Project (M-TAP), a two-year research and advocacy program recently released a report that shows the vast majority of the world’s malaria-endemic countries continue to maintain import tariffs on essential commodities used in the fight against malaria, including bednets, anti-malarial medicines, insecticides used in indoor residual spraying (IRS), IRS pumps, … [Read more...]