Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 22, 2016 News
…increased gold prices bring increased malaria cases—PAHO health report finds
Reported cases of malaria are constantly fluctuating but cases of underreporting seem to be higher, with the Pan American Health Organization reporting that there were nearly 45% underreported cases in 2013 and 2014, nationally.
According to the PAHO Health@50 in Guyana: Progress Health Report 1966-2016 the organization conducted a rapid assessment of malaria reporting in August 2015 and established that there was a 44% of underreporting of cases nationally in 2014 and 42% in 2013. The report also referenced the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 2015, which coincided with their assessment.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, had told Kaieteur News that cases of underreporting to date have been just around 30%, however this percentage is still alarming since the country is seeking to eradicate the disease.
PAHO stated that Guyana’s tropical climate, high rainfall, and marshy conditions causes malaria to consistently pose a threat to the population. The report, which spanned 50 years, indicated that from the thousands of reported cases at the beginning of the National Malaria Eradication Programme in 1959, only 72 cases were reported in 1974.
However, there was a parallel reduction in resource allocation to malaria and this contributed to resurgence in cases, the report added.
Nevertheless, it acknowledged that Guyana has made efforts to eradicate the disease and there has been significant decline.
In 1991, there were 41,000 cases reported; the numbers increased to a little more than 84,000 reported cases in 1995. Thereafter, annual cases were consistently around 30,000 up to 2004. But suddenly there was a drop between 2007 and 2009, where reported cases were at their lowest.
There have been increases annually afterward. At present, reported cases are somewhere near 8000 cases.
Malaria increases when gold price increases
Malaria transmission has always been tied to movement of persons from the coast travelling to the hinterland regions to engage in economic activity associated with the extractive industries of gold, diamond and lumber.
The report revealed that whenever there is an increase in the price of gold on the world market, there is a concomitant increase in the number of malaria cases, as a greater number of coastlanders travel to the malaria endemic regions for the purpose of mining. Thus, a greater number of the population is exposed to malaria.
The report also indicated that while the majority of cases occur among coastlanders, transmission among the indigenous peoples is higher. Indigenous transmission is most noticeable in children under 19 years of age and elderly persons 60 years and older.
Currently, the National Malaria Programme is engaged in strengthening Malaria case management through training to improve Malaria detection (microscopy and rapid testing) and treatment, active case detection through partnerships with civil society, vector control through distribution of long-lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLIN) and control of mosquito breeding sites through spraying with insecticides.
Persaud, however, stated that based on the review of the malaria situation since 2010, it is evident that there has been a descending trend.
The Pan American Health Organisation usually collaborates with the Health Ministry to review reported cases.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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