Miriam Ntese’s Post

As we celebrate World Malaria Day, there are important facts you need to know: - Malaria is a critical public health concern especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. - Globally, an estimated 3.2 billion people are at risk of malaria infection. According to WHO (2023), there was an estimated 249 million new cases of malaria globally in 2022 leading to about 608,000 deaths. - Alarmingly, the WHO African Region shouldered a disproportionate burden, accounting for about 233 million cases (94%). - The WHO African Region also recorded 12.7 million cases of malaria infection among pregnant women (gestational malaria). - Gestational malaria is dangerous because it leads to poor health outcomes for both the mother and child, so it must be prevented. - WHO recommends intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) among pregnant women. - A study conducted by Ameyaw (2022) in a Sub-Saharan country revealed that less than half of pregnant women receive the recommended doses of IPTp-SP. - This means that there is much work to be done in preventing gestational malaria. - This will require the combined efforts from health workers and government in providing sensitization and community mobilization among the general public.

Cross-border malaria transmission concerning: Cross-border malaria transmission concerning NBC Online Mon, 05/27/2024 - 21:33

Inspired by ancient malaria! Not so inspired by staggering prevention and treatment options against the parasite... WHO has a bold goal to eliminate malaria by 2030 from 30 countries. Globally in 2022, there were an estimated 608 000 malaria deaths in 85 countries. The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden, it contributes to 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths. Children under 5 accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in 2022. RTS,S malaria vaccine (Mosquirix), launched in 2021, is about 40% efficient against malaria and a newer one (2023) R21(Matrix-M) is >70% effective. Malaria (who.int), Malaria eradication (who.int) #WHA77 only few member countries addressed the antimalarial drug resistance, which is a real threat as we have very few effective antimalarials currently. WHO unveils new strategy to tackle antimalarial drug resistance in Africa | UN News Quote: “As it stands, we just have artemisinin-based combination therapies for uncomplicated malaria. So, any threat to these drugs could lead to lots of cases and deaths.”

🦟 Severe Malaria in Children: Beyond Hospital Discharge A new study published in Malaria Journal reveals that children aged 6 months to 4 years who survive severe falciparum malaria face a significantly higher risk of hospitalization within a year of discharge compared to their peers. Alarmingly, over 80% of these hospitalizations were due to malaria recurrence. This highlights an urgent need for studies on post-discharge malaria chemoprevention to reduce morbidity in these vulnerable children. #GlobalHealth #MalariaResearch #ChildHealth #PublicHealth #MalariaPrevention

🌟 Hey everyone! Get ready to be inspired! 🌟 Malaria has been a huge challenge in Mozambique, but thanks to the tireless efforts of programs like IMaP, we're seeing real progress in the fight against this deadly disease. Today, I'm thrilled to share an incredible impact story that highlights @Chemonics efforts to battle this devastating disease 🦟 #Malaria is Mozambique’s most important public health problem. To help reduce malaria mortality, morbidity, and infection, Chemonics International implemented the five-year, USAID-funded #Mozambique Integrated Malaria Program (IMaP) in four high-burden malaria provinces. IMaP worked at the national, provincial, and district levels to strengthen training and supervisory structures for quality case management, such as diagnosis and treatment, and preventive treatment among pregnant women. The program led the introduction, implementation, and standardization of integrated #SupportiveSupervision for health care workers to develop their skills and improve quality malaria health service delivery. With #TechnicalAssistance and logistical support, health facilities strengthened their case management knowledge and skills through malaria morbidity and mortality sessions. Staff focal points from referral and other large health facilities in each province met and discussed severe malaria cases and deaths. Participants concluded that most deaths attributed to malaria were misclassified and caused by other diseases; clinicians were not regularly monitoring patients in the ward; malaria complications were mismanaged; and incorrect doses of injectable artesunate were administered in the first 24 hours of treatment. Findings from these sessions led to supportive supervision visits and on-the-job training at affected facilities. After training, Hospital Central de Nampula recorded a 38% reduction in malaria deaths (131 to 81) from 2018 to 2019. Overall, in Mozambique, between 2018 and 2021 in all four target provinces, there was a 43% decrease in malaria deaths as a proportion of all inpatient deaths (from 3.7% to 2.1%), despite a 16% increase in malaria cases. The increase in cases was likely in part due to improved health-seeking behaviors, increased testing, and improved reporting. Learn more: https://ow.ly/OJtm30sAXRI

🌟 Hey everyone! Get ready to be inspired! 🌟 Malaria has been a huge challenge in Mozambique, but thanks to the tireless efforts of programs like IMaP, we're seeing real progress in the fight against this deadly disease. Today, I'm thrilled to share an incredible impact story that highlights @Chemonics efforts to battle this devastating disease 🦟 #Malaria is Mozambique’s most important public health problem. To help reduce malaria mortality, morbidity, and infection, Chemonics International implemented the five-year, USAID-funded #Mozambique Integrated Malaria Program (IMaP) in four high-burden malaria provinces. IMaP worked at the national, provincial, and district levels to strengthen training and supervisory structures for quality case management, such as diagnosis and treatment, and preventive treatment among pregnant women. The program led the introduction, implementation, and standardization of integrated #SupportiveSupervision for health care workers to develop their skills and improve quality malaria health service delivery. With #TechnicalAssistance and logistical support, health facilities strengthened their case management knowledge and skills through malaria morbidity and mortality sessions. Staff focal points from referral and other large health facilities in each province met and discussed severe malaria cases and deaths. Participants concluded that most deaths attributed to malaria were misclassified and caused by other diseases; clinicians were not regularly monitoring patients in the ward; malaria complications were mismanaged; and incorrect doses of injectable artesunate were administered in the first 24 hours of treatment. Findings from these sessions led to supportive supervision visits and on-the-job training at affected facilities. After training, Hospital Central de Nampula recorded a 38% reduction in malaria deaths (131 to 81) from 2018 to 2019. Overall, in Mozambique, between 2018 and 2021 in all four target provinces, there was a 43% decrease in malaria deaths as a proportion of all inpatient deaths (from 3.7% to 2.1%), despite a 16% increase in malaria cases. The increase in cases was likely in part due to improved health-seeking behaviors, increased testing, and improved reporting. Learn more: https://ow.ly/eEfe30sBbYz

'Insecticide-treated bed nets, first distributed nationally in 2010, were associated with decreased An. gambiae relative abundance. However, increased pyrethroid resistance was associated with increased An. gambiae relative abundance and malaria incidence. Epidemic malaria peaks corresponded to periods of model-predicted An. gambiae re-emergence, and increased regional air temperatures during the period were further associated with increased malaria incidence. Indoor residual spraying (IRS), implemented with non-pyrethroid insecticides later in the period, was associated with 86% reductions in An. gambiae relative abundance and 75% reductions in malaria incidence. These findings suggest that increased pyrethroid resistance and the re-emergence of An. gambiae were closely linked to the malaria resurgence in eastern Rwanda. Non-pyrethroid IRS or other control measures that effectively target An. gambiae may help prevent future resurgences.' https://lnkd.in/gGk29SdC

📢The World Health Organization's World Malaria Report 2024 is out now! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gPZQ4TFs Each year, the World malaria report serves as a vital tool to assess global progress and gaps in the fight against malaria. This year’s report provides a critical and up-to-date snapshot of efforts to control and eliminate the disease in 83 countries worldwide. The report also introduces, for the first time, a dedicated chapter emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and effective response, with a focus on reaching the populations most vulnerable to malaria. Groups at high risk of a malaria infection include children under 5, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, people with disabilities, and people in remote areas with limited healthcare access.   The report highlight the importance to invest in better data systems to improve health outcomes, eliminate barriers to health services, and address inequities. This includes collecting and analysing disaggregated data that can reveal more insights related to sex and high-risk groups, such as migrant communities, marginalized ethnic groups, and persons with disabilities. In addition to quantitative data, qualitative data is needed to provide critical context on the social determinants of malaria and cultural dynamics.

Today is World Malaria Day. It is one of the official global public health campaigns currently organized by the World Health Organization. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoans. It is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Malaria is a leading cause of premature mortality in the world. The disease is most common in Africa, although Latin America, Asia, Middle East and some parts of Europe are also affected. Malaria can be cured, but there is no effective vaccine that could prevent it. In 2019, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria and 409 000 malaria-related deaths in 87 countries. Children under the age of 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa continued to account for approximately two thirds of global deaths from malaria. The WHO African Region shouldered 94% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide in 2019. More than half of all cases were in 5 countries: Nigeria (27% of cases), Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), Mozambique (4%) and Niger (5%). More information —> https://lnkd.in/eMjVCvQi

🌟 Hey everyone! Get ready to be inspired! 🌟 Malaria has been a huge challenge in Mozambique, but thanks to the tireless efforts of programs like IMaP, we're seeing real progress in the fight against this deadly disease. Today, I'm thrilled to share an incredible impact story that highlights @Chemonics efforts to battle this devastating disease 🦟 #Malaria is Mozambique’s most important public health problem. To help reduce malaria mortality, morbidity, and infection, Chemonics International implemented the five-year, USAID-funded #Mozambique Integrated Malaria Program (IMaP) in four high-burden malaria provinces. IMaP worked at the national, provincial, and district levels to strengthen training and supervisory structures for quality case management, such as diagnosis and treatment, and preventive treatment among pregnant women. The program led the introduction, implementation, and standardization of integrated #SupportiveSupervision for health care workers to develop their skills and improve quality malaria health service delivery. With #TechnicalAssistance and logistical support, health facilities strengthened their case management knowledge and skills through malaria morbidity and mortality sessions. Staff focal points from referral and other large health facilities in each province met and discussed severe malaria cases and deaths. Participants concluded that most deaths attributed to malaria were misclassified and caused by other diseases; clinicians were not regularly monitoring patients in the ward; malaria complications were mismanaged; and incorrect doses of injectable artesunate were administered in the first 24 hours of treatment. Findings from these sessions led to supportive supervision visits and on-the-job training at affected facilities. After training, Hospital Central de Nampula recorded a 38% reduction in malaria deaths (131 to 81) from 2018 to 2019. Overall, in Mozambique, between 2018 and 2021 in all four target provinces, there was a 43% decrease in malaria deaths as a proportion of all inpatient deaths (from 3.7% to 2.1%), despite a 16% increase in malaria cases. The increase in cases was likely in part due to improved health-seeking behaviors, increased testing, and improved reporting. Learn more: https://ow.ly/oV6O30sAY12