ravages
The
of malaria
Malaria is rife in Asia, Latin America and, above all, in Africa
where almost 90% of deaths occur, essentially young children.
In Africa, the disease is not only a health disaster, but is also
a major handicap for social and economic development.
Africa in the firing line
Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe forms of malaria, is present throughout
the tropical zone. If the disease is much more widespread on the African continent, however, it is mainly because
of the efficacy of its vectors, in particular Anopheles gambiae, which live longer, bite more often and feed
almost exclusively off man, whereas other species prefer animals.
The fight against malaria is the leading item in public health spending in many sub-Saharan countries in Africa. African governments,
conscious of the burden this is for their economies, now devote more resources to the fight, in accordance with the resolutions adopted
at the Abuja Summit in 2000.
Trading pharmaceutical products
on a market in Senegal.
Elsewhere in the world
South-East Asia, South America (particularly the Amazon rainforest region) and
Oceania (Papua-New-Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) register 10 % of the deaths
associated with malaria at the global level. Major urbanisation has contributed
significantly to the regression of the disease in these regions where there are
essentially only simple bouts of the disease.
There are relatively few endemic areas on these continents. As the adults are not exposed to the parasites
in a permanent manner, they do not develop immunity and are often ill once they have been infected
by the parasites.
Medical consultation in a rural region
of Bangladesh.
An economic burden
Malaria is a major handicap for social and economic development. The disease hinders the education of children
and diminishes their future abilities. It is a source of significant absenteeism from work, resulting in a loss of productivity
that is non negligible. According to the WHO, malaria slows down Africa’s growth by 1.3% a year.
Malaria is both the cause and the result of poverty. The disparities in wealth increase over time between the countries affected by malaria and those
that are not. The means for fighting the disease implemented thus seem to be derisory with regard to the human and economic cost of the disease,
which is estimated at more than 10 billion euros a year.
Malaria as a hindrance to education (Cameroon).
Malaria hinders the economic development of the poorest countries on the planet.