Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by mosquito insects. One is said to be infected with malaria disease when, he/she is bitten by mosquito insect, the mosquito then release an organism called plasmodium into the blood stream of its prey and the fellow within a short time begins to experience signs of malaria. The two main organisms that cause malaria by mosquitoes in Africa are:

1. Plasmodium vivax
2. Plasmodium falciparum

This disease prevails in Africa more than any other continent because of its tropical conditions and kills faster than any other disease like Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
In Africa every day people die out of the malaria infection. Therefore the need to totally eradicate the mosquito insects, which is the main cause of the terrible disease

MODE OF TRANSMISSION
The plasmodium enters into the blood stream of a person when, he/she receives a mosquito bite, the plasmodium from the blood stream enters the liver of that person, where the plasmodium multiplies for about 7 – 10 days. The plasmodium is then released into the blood stream again and that is when the infected person starts having signs and symptoms of malaria.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

1.  Loss of appetite
2. Anaemia
3. Fever
4. Headaches
5. Pains in the spine.

Mosquitoes grow or thrive in stagnant water, ponds, choked gutters, unclean environment with pockets of water and very filthy environment. Mosquitoes grow quickly in these environments by multiplication through releasing eggs called larvae into the stagnant waters, ponds, and chocked drainage.

Glopec, shall reach the unreached and with the interventions stated above eradicate malaria from such poor and poorer communities. To be able to carry out these interventions and achieve our target by the year 2015, we shall need adequate resources in terms of materials, equipments, financial, human resources, medical practitioners and researchers to collaborate with, to curb this dangerous disease.

Glopec would use the following measures to achieve our aim;-

1. For larval control to be effective we will find and effectively treat a very high proportion of the breeding sites located within the vector flight range of the community to be protected.
2.  Insecticide resistance management tactics would be implemented in any sustained vector control program relying on the use of insecticides.
3.  When an epidemic occurs, a rapid assessment would be made as to whether vector control may have an impact on disease transmission. If this is the case, then vector control measures would be implemented promptly.
4. An ITN program would aim for high coverage use and should ensure that all mosquito nets are treated with insecticide, either through regular free re-treatment or distribution of LLINs. Follow-up would be carried out by GLOPEC monitoring and evaluation committee to ensure continuous availability as well as regular and appropriate use of ITNs.
5. Knowledge of both vector ecology and behavior will determine the choice of intervention to be used. This will include chemical control (use of adulticides and larvicides) a combination of methods (e.g. ITNs and IRS; ITNs and Larviciding), mechanical control (house screening) and or source reduction(e.g. drainage);
6. To ensure consistency of effort and avoid work duplication, Global Poverty Eradication Centre (Glopec) will initiate an intersectoral collaboration as well as involve communities in the implementation of integrated vector management activities.
7. Global Poverty Eradication Centre (Glopec) will increase attention to public – private alliances for efficient full scale implementation of malaria control interventions, including vector control and personal protection.
8. Global Poverty Eradication Centre (Glopec) would Actively encourage community involvement for essential and effective personal protection and vector control interventions.
9. Global Poverty Eradication Centre (Glopec) Malaria control programs would have comprehensive strategies for human resource development, including qualification in vector control and participation in operational research, career and training opportunities for our staff, and support staff from the communities. Global Poverty Eradication Centre (Glopec) training may include the following;
   • For staff with operational responsibilities;
     Training for implementation of program activities; e.g. spraying techniques, treating mosquito nets, household survey and advocacy should be amongst our programs priorities
   • For staff with managerial responsibilities;
     Access to training courses and tools for vector control personnel in managerial process and planning basic transmission dynamics epidemiology, entomological investigations, budgeting/finance procurement , communications, and human resource management. Post-training opportunities for vitalization of acquired skills should be provided.