Introduction - malaria

Introduction - malaria

Action

Action

 

Introduction - malaria

© UNICEF/Ethiopia

KEY MALARIA FACTS

• Estimated Number people living in malaria areas:      50 million
• Estimated number malaria cases per year:             9 million
• Number of extra cases in an epidemic year:         6 million
• Number of people dying in a 9-month malaria epidemic (e.g. 2003):                   114,000
• Estimated number of lives saved annually if all malaria control
interventions fully implemented (Child survival strategy, 2005):          70,400
• Number of ITNs distributed to families in Ethiopia since 2005:      4.5 million
• Total number ITNs needed to reach 100% coverage:       20 million
• Coartem doses distributed in public health system:                5.6 million
• Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits distributed:            2.2 million
• Approx funds allocated by UNICEF for malaria nets (US$):      $12 million 

 

THE ISSUE

Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia; it contributes up to 20% of under-five deaths. Tragically, in epidemic years, mortality rates of nearly 100,000 children are not uncommon. In the last major malaria epidemic in 2003, there were up to 16 million cases of malaria - 6 million more than an average year.
 
Out of an estimated 9 million malaria cases annually, only 4-5 million will be treated in a health facility. The remainder will often have no medical support. It is estimated that only 20 per cent of children under five years of age that contract malaria are treated in a facility.

P. Falciparum and P. Vivax are two common malarial parasites in the region. The former is considered the most severe of the two and almost all deaths occur by infection from this parasite. P. Falciparum can rapidly become resistant to malarial treatment and poses a significant challenge to malarial medicine.
 
Malaria is prevalent in 75 per cent of the country, putting over 50 million people at risk (out of a countrywide population of 77 million). The disease accounts for seven per cent of outpatient visits and represents the largest single cause of morbidity. Large scale epidemics tend to occur every 5-8 years in certain areas due to climatic fluctuations and drought-related nutritional emergencies.

Children and pregnant mothers are among the most vulnerable. Drought related malnutrition, poor health and no sanitation can leave a weak immune system open to attack from malaria. It can also worsen the effects of malnutrition through malaria-related diarrhea and anemia.

Malaria is also known to speed up the onset of AIDS in anyone who is HIV positive. Those living with HIV in high-risk areas are also amongst the most vulnerable. 

A red blood cell infected with the  malarial parasite P. Vivax.
The situation is exacerbated by the vast distances rural Ethiopians must cover in the countryside to find a clinic or other health facility with reliable medical supplies. With day to day survival preoccupying the minds of most parents, walking more than a day for anti-malarial supplies is a daunting task.  

 

MALARIA TRANSMISSION IN ETHIOPIA

The map below shows malaria transmission periods in Ethiopia. Epidemics tend to occur in the parts of the white and pink areas below 2,200 meters, where people have not acquired immunity to malaria. Areas above 2,200 in the white areas are malaria free. Red and green areas are subject to seasonal malaria with transmission of more than three months, leading to acquired immunity among people. Only exceptionally do epidemics occur in these areas.