April 25, 2008: World Malaria Day

[Diagnostic]

25 April is a day of unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of malaria around the world.

World Malaria Day is an opportunity for malaria-free countries to learn about the devastating consequences of the disease and for new donors to join a global partnership against malaria. It is an occasion for research and academia institutions to flag their scientific advances to both experts and the general public. It is chance for countries in affected regions to learn from each other's experiences and back each other efforts. It is an opportunity for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their results and reflect together on how to scale up what has been proven to work. 

World Malaria Day is not a day for gloom and fear. It is a day of determination and optimism as the global community now has enough evidence that this fight can be won if partners collaborate efficiently on community, local, national, regional and international levels.
Diagnostic

[Toldo]

  Proper diagnosis and treatment key to malaria control in Somalia, says UNICEF


Nairobi, Kenya, 25 April 2008 - Accessing effective diagnosis and treatment is key to control of malaria in Somalia, UNICEF Representative in the country Christian Balslev-Olesen said today on the occasion of World Malaria Day.

With an estimated 700,000 cases annually, malaria is a major public health problem in Somalia that requires a concerted approach for effective control. The burden is highest along rivers and settlements with artificial water reservoirs where there is all-year-round transmission. Children below five years and pregnant women account for majority of the reported cases and deaths.

'People who suspect they have malaria should get tested before treatment since not every fever is malaria,' says Balslev-Olesen. 'Rapid diagnostic tests and effective drugs have been introduced with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNICEF has been able to guarantee that communities access them.'

In most African countries where malaria is common, treatment is normally based on assumptions that symptoms of fever are indicative of malaria without testing. More often individuals start taking action either by self medication through drugs bought over the counter or other local remedies like consulting a local herbalist.

However, through the simple rapid diagnostic test available in all health facilities in Somalia, individuals can get a blood test and within 15 minutes detect if they have malaria parasites. The Global Fund programme has also ensured that positive malaria cases are effectively treated by introducing the WHO approved Artemisinin-based combination therapy (popularly known as ACT).

ACT is made up of two drugs: Artesunate and Sulfadoxine- Pyramethamine. Since 2006, UNICEF has been training health workers in the country on malaria treatment using ACT to replace drugs to which there is high resistance. As severely malnourished children are particularly vulnerable to malaria, ACT is also being provided through therapeutic feeding centres.

'In some instances the true cause of fever may not be malaria and by not getting tested for malaria, individuals can miss the opportunity to treat the real cause of fever,' says Abdinor Mohammed, Malaria Coordinator for the Global Fund programme in Central/Southern Somalia. 'Generally we see that 20 to 30% of persons tested actually have malaria while the others are suffering from other illnesses that require different treatment.'

UNICEF Somalia is using this year's World Malaria Day as an opportunity to address this growing challenge that every fever is malaria and is launching a campaign to encourage individuals to demand for a test before malaria treatment.

About the Global Fund Malaria Programme – UNICEF is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund Malaria Grant for Somalia. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has committed $26 million over five years for the malaria control program covering activities such as malaria case management; malaria prevention through education and distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets; and capacity building of local authorities.

About the World Malaria Day – Today 25th April 2005, marks the inaugural World Malaria Day previously known as the Africa Malaria Day, in Somalia some partners observed the day on 24th while others on the 26th April to allow Muslim faithful to participate in the commemoration event since today falls on Friday a day set for prayers by the predominate Muslim community. Events will be held in 10 locations spearheaded by the Health Authorities and Global Fund sub recipients.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

[Doctoor]

In every awareness day, each country should recheck and review it's stats about the concerned disease, but unfortunately we don't have accurate data to be reviewed!!!

[Yaxya]

In every awareness day, each country should recheck and review it's stats about the concerned disease, but unfortunately we don't have accurate data to be reviewed!!!

that's our job as we are somali doctors with some logistic support from health authourities.