The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Malaria as a life-threatening disease primarily found in tropical countries. Although it is both preventable and curable, without prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, a case of uncomplicated malaria can progress to a severe form of the disease, which is often fatal without treatment. Statistics also shows that malaria kills more people than HIV AIDS.
Malaria is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat. There are over 400 different species of Anopheles mosquitoes and around 40, known as vector species, can transmit the disease.
Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. In 2022, an estimated 249 million people contracted malaria in 85 countries. That same year, the disease claimed approximately 608,000 lives.
Statistics also shows infants and children less than 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS are at particular risk. Other vulnerable groups include people entering areas with intense malaria transmission who have not acquired partial immunity from long exposure to the disease, or who are not taking chemo-preventive therapies, such as migrants, mobile populations and travelers. In Africa, most malaria deaths occur in young children, whereas in areas with less transmission and low immunity, all age groups are at risk.
What are the symptoms and how is it diagnosed?
The first symptoms of malaria usually begin within 10–15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Fever, headache and chills are typically experienced, though these symptoms may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria. In malaria endemic areas, people who have developed partial immunity may become infected but experience no symptoms (asymptomatic infections).
WHO has recommended prompt diagnosis for anyone with suspected malaria. WHO also noted that if Plasmodium falciparum malaria is not treated within 24 hours, the infection can progress to severe illness and death. Severe malaria can cause multi-organ failure in adults, while children frequently suffer from severe anaemia, respiratory distress or cerebral malaria. Human malaria caused by other Plasmodium species can cause significant illness and occasionally life-threatening disease.
Human Rights and Malaria Eradication
Right to life is a fundamental human right guaranteed by Nigeria Constitution, by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Anything that poses threat to the life of people is a human rights issue. Malaria is no doubt a human right issue given the havoc it has wreaked and is still wreaking in Africa and other parts of the world. Although malaria is treatable and curable if diagnosed early, there is need to eradicate it. It is in this sense that we say that eradication of malaria is a human right issue. Since the ages, millions of people have lost their lives to Malaria. We cannot allow this to continue. Treatment and cure are expensive. The resources we spend every year to treat and cure Malaria can be used to fund research for the purpose of its eradication. Governments of African countries to pool their resources together under the umbrella of the African Union (AU) to fund research into the eradication of Malaria. We have researchers, scientists, professors in the field of health and medicines and medical experts that we can engage and support in this huge project of eradicating Malaria from Africa and the world.
Threat to the Fight against Malaria
Over the last decade, it has been discovered that some parasite resistant to medical drugs has emerged. As a result, drug-resistant malaria is becoming common in Africa. Where drug-resistant malaria is found, treatment and cure is difficult as more efforts and resources are required to treat and cure it. WHO has expressed its concerned about more recent reports of drug-resistant malaria in Africa.
Can Malaria be Eradicated?
The answer to this question has been given by WHO: “The answer is yes. There is no specific biological or environmental barrier to malaria eradication. However, do we have the tools, programmes and financing that could actually drive an eradication effort now? The answer is no.”
Vaccine Against Malaria
RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) is the first and, to date, only vaccine that has demonstrated it can significantly reduce malaria in young children living in moderate-to-high malaria transmission areas. It acts against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, the deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa
In 2019, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi began leading the introduction of the vaccine in selected areas as part of a large-scale pilot programme coordinated by WHO. To date, the programme has shown that the RTS,S vaccine is safe, effective and feasible to deliver through routine immunization services. As of March 2023, more than 1.3 million children had received at least 1 dose of the vaccine through this programme. Twenty-nine countries in Africa have expressed interest in adopting the malaria vaccine as part of their national malaria control strategies.
In October 2021, WHO recommended the use of the RTS,S vaccine for children living in areas with moderate and high transmission of malaria. The recommendation was informed by the full package of RTS,S evidence, including results from the ongoing pilot programme.
Rollout of malaria vaccines is well underway. As of 25 April 2024, eight countries in Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi and Sierra Leone) offer malaria vaccine as part of their childhood immunization programmes, and according to their national malaria control plans. At least 10 more countries are likely to introduce RTS,S and R21 malaria vaccines this year.And in Africa, at least 30 countries plan to introduce the malaria vaccine into their childhood immunization programmes and as part of their national malaria control strategies. With two malaria vaccines recommended and available, vaccine supply is expected to be sufficient to meet the high demand.
Eradicating Malaria
Although medical experts have stated that Malaria can be eradicated, there are obstacles hindering its eradication. Among these obstacles are insufficient attention in the research and development space, and insufficient investment to roll out available tools, particularly in countries with weak health systems. Therefore, to eradicate Malaria, the following must be taken into consideration:
1. We must Embark on Sufficient and thorough Research in Africa
Research is the basis of all findings and discoveries. A research into Malaria eradication is no doubt going to be expensive and time consuming, but the outcome can be great. As we all know, Malaria has its root in Africa. It is therefore important that we find African solution to its eradication. We cannot continue to depend on orthodox medicine produced from the Western countries for treatment and cure for Malaria. If we could come up with ways to eradicate it, it is better. The Western world may not be so much interested in the eradication of malaria because if malaria is eradicated, their pharmaceutical companies would be shut down and the capital flight from African countries would stop.
2. We Must Invest towards Eradicating Malaria
Governments of African Countries have roles to play in eradicating Malaria in Africa. They must come up with policies aimed at eradicating Malaria. They must allocate specified sum of money in their budget for purpose of research and projects aimed at eradicating Malaria. Our philanthropists, business tycoons, medical experts and scientists have vital roles to play towards eradicating Malaria in Africa. They can invest their money, time, skills and experiences. The western countries have proved that Malaria can be eradicated, but they are more interested in the treatment and cure than in its eradication. The reason for this may not be far-fetched: if Malaria is eradicated, there would be no more need for production and marketing of Malaria drugs. The implication is that many foreign producers of Malaria drugs would be forced to close down their factories or forced to focus on other pharmaceutical drugs. In view of this, we should not wait for them to come to Africa to help us eradicate Malaria.
In conclusion, it is worthy of note that Malaria is a life-threatening disease and as such, its eradication is a human right issue that must be taken seriously. Malaria kills more people than HIV AIDS. Although it is treatable and curable, facts have emerged that Malaria parasites have developed resistance to drugs thereby making it difficult for Malaria to be treated and cured. Two powerful vaccines have also been produced to immunize children against Malaria. But our focus is that Africans should not keep dying of Malaria. Africans should not keep having Malaria with us. WHO has stated clearly that Malaria can be eradicated if there is sufficient research and sufficient financing. While the West may not be so much interested in the eradication of Malaria, we must come up with African solutions. With the support of African countries and all and sundry, we can eliminate Malaria from Africa and from other parts of the world. Malaria eradication is a human right issue.
By Blessing Mase
Lawyers Alert 