weapons
What
do we have
to fight malaria?
The progress made in scientific research since the Second World War
has made it possible to develop a wide range of weapons to combat
the mosquitoes and parasites responsible for malaria. Ambitious
international programmes have been launched in the last few
years with the aim of reducing, or even eradicating,
the disease.
Target number 1: the mosquito
The fight against malaria above all means protecting oneself against the vector
mosquitoes, particularly at night. To do so, the openings in houses are equipped with
fine mesh and beds are equipped with mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides.
Decontamination around residential areas makes it possible to eliminate the sources
of water where the anophele mosquitoes lay their eggs, thus limiting contact between
the populations and the vectors. Finally, spraying insecticide inside homes significantly
reduces the number of mosquitoes and plays a part in controlling epidemics.
Mosquito control campaign in Angola.
The war against the parasite
Since the Second World War, scientific research has made it possible to diversify the range of drugs available, with the discovery of new
antiparasitic compounds: chloroquine, artemisinin… These compounds can be used to prevent the disease, particularly in pregnant women,
children and travellers, but also to treat the disease, once the symptoms have declared, as a means of eliminating the parasites from
the blood, thus curing the patient.
As malaria affects the poorest countries on the planet, the cost of treatments is a major obstacle for populations with very low income.
Recently, several pharmaceutics laboratories have committed to programmes for distributing drugs at cost price to public health services
and non governmental organisations.
Manufacturing anti-malarial drugs.
Information and prevention
Providing information about the treatments and means of prevention available is of utmost importance
if the efficacy of the programmes fighting malaria is to be ensured. Information campaigns for the most vulnerable
populations are organised in several countries. They also aim to change practices that are at risk: the non use
of mosquito nets, the use of ineffective treatments, etc.
The international community has never been more mobilised than it has been in the last few years. The most ambitious programme – “Roll Back Malaria” –
is the brainchild of the WHO (World Health Organisation), the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
and the World Bank. It involves governments, research and development organisations, NGO and private companies. The programme, in which France
participates, has set as its objective for after 2015 a mortality rate of almost zero for all preventable deaths plus the elimination of malaria
from a dozen countries.
Malaria prevention campaign for pregnant women in Benin.
Prevention campaign in Benin.