Today is celebrated as a reminder that great challenges remain to be met in order to eradicate malaria from the world.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2015, the estimated number of new malaria cases was 214 million, with 438,000 deaths, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, "millions of people still lack access to the services they need to prevent and treat malaria."
To commemorate this day we publish a Article sent from Cameroon by JCONGD volunteers Ombretta D'Aura, social educator, and Ayoze Gil, family and community doctor, who collaborated with the organization of two talks on malaria prevention at the Saint John of God Health and Orthopedic Center in Yassa (Douala).
Creativity in the use of mosquito nets, a reality against malaria
Text and photos by Ombretta D'Aura and Ayoze Gil.
In Cameroon, people often talk about âmon palu,â my malaria, as if catching malaria several times a year were already a normal part of their daily lives and they even know what symptoms it presents in their body.
Described like this, it might seem as if catching malaria isn't so different from a cold for us, or perhaps a slightly stronger flu. However, malaria continues to kill a significant number of people throughout Africa, especially children.
Unfortunately, even though people know when they have their "palu," they are still not used to going immediately to a health center to begin treatment, a measure that would save many lives.
In almost a month and a half in Cameroon, we have observed that people often arrive at the hospital after a week of fever and other serious symptoms. They also frequently use natural remedies or medications purchased at local street vendors from people who call themselves doctors and who are often referred to here, somewhat ironically, as "the neighborhood doctors."
Furthermore, in many cases, malaria is compounded by an already poor physical condition, characterized by malnutrition, anemia, and low immune defenses.
There was certainly no better topic to begin a series of educational talks at the St. John of God Health and Orthopedic Center in Yassa, Douala, where nearly half of the patients who come in for a consultation are diagnosed with malaria every day.
That's why we supported Robert, the lab technician, in preparing a PowerPoint presentation on the topic, which he gave last Monday and today, April 25, 2016, on the occasion of World Malaria Day.
We screened and discussed it in the center's waiting room at 8:15 a.m., before the consultations began. Since he speaks English, but we're in a French-speaking region, the talk was given in both languages. Brothers Michel and Blaise of St. John of God intervened to reinforce the most important concepts.
One of the most entertaining moments was when we talked about mosquito nets. Robert pointed out that mosquito nets are meant to be hung over beds, not for fishing or covering crops. Everyone laughed, but creativity in the use of mosquito nets is a reality. There are programs run by the WHO and the Cameroonian government that periodically distribute free mosquito nets in neighborhoods, but there's still one more step to take between having them and using them regularly and properly.
Text and photos sent by Ombretta D'Aura and Ayoze Gil.
