Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 09, 2014 News
(From the Desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman)
Guyana has had a malaria problem for several decades now and most likely malaria has been here even before our
first people.
Malaria is found to be transmitted mainly in four regions – One, Seven, Eight and Nine. These are known as our malaria endemic regions. We have had mixed outcomes with our malaria control programme, with some years seeing decreased cases by a few hundred and other years the numbers increasing by a few thousands.
Today Malaria remains a huge problem, mainly in Africa and worldwide, as it accounts for over 600,000 deaths every year. Figures released by the World Health Organization in December 2013 showed that in 2012 there were over 207 million cases of malaria worldwide. In Africa, a child dies every minute from Malaria.
In Guyana we are not affected on the coast of the country, but can become infected if we visit some areas of the endemic regions. We have recorded over 30,000 cases in 2012 and the rate slowly decreased over 2013. We have made several interventions to step up activities in the affected regions to further lower our cases and have seen positive impact thus far.
There are three types of malaria found in Guyana and those are Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and Plasmodium malariae (Pm). Pf, if left untreated, will kill 90 per cent of persons infected; Pv can stay dormant in the liver for an extended period of time and suddenly present, this is why it is important to drink all medications which are given to ensure all parasites are eliminated and Pm is a much more rare type of malaria, infecting less than 150 persons in 2013.
One of the most important aspects to control this disease is to ensure that surveillance is strengthened and all cases are being diagnosed and treated promptly in order to break disease transmission. This is a very costly exercise, as sometimes it means tracking persons deep into the hinterland and testing them and if positive treating them and conducting other vector control interventions.
One of the most effective ways to prevent malaria is supported by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization is the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs).
In Guyana we have distributed over 70,000 LLINs to persons in the affected regions over two years. These nets have insecticide within the fibres and act as a barrier against mosquitoes, if mosquitoes come into contact with it they die. It is an extremely effective tool in the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases as other insects will also die.
It is extremely important once infected with any of the three types of malaria to seek medical attention. Once you have been diagnosed with malaria, treatment will be directed to the type of malaria you are infected with. It is advisable to drink all the medication as directed by your doctor, medex or health care worker. If all medications are taken as directed you will be free of malaria as all parasites would be killed and you will be cured. You will only get malaria again if you are exposed to another infected mosquito.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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