In a rural hospital in Patia under south-eastern Chittagong, 15-year-old Zakaria has just recovered from severe malaria.
The
young boy has battled with a number of infectious diseases in his short
life span. But he is fortunate. He has fought off malaria, too.
Zakaria's
victory over malaria is an outcome of a sustained anti-malaria campaign
launched on a war-footing by the government, of course in association
with some committed non-governmental organisations (NGOs). So say the
experts, at least.
Use of long-lasting special mosquito
nets, indoor residual spraying, effective medicines and preventive
treatment have brought down the number of malaria cases in the country
significantly, thanks to the government's malaria control programme.
At least 535 people died of malaria in 2004, while the number came down to as low as 37 in 2010.
"As
we observe World Malaria Day on Monday, we have much to celebrate,"
says Dr Akramul Islam of BRAC that leads malaria control programme of
the government.
But he warned that complacency was the
biggest threat, as taking malaria control activities to highly
malaria-prone districts still remained a challenge due to remote and
hilly geographical conditions, language barriers and political unrest
in some parts.
Patia Upazila health and family welfare
officer Dr Dulal Prasad Bhattacharjee told bdnews24.com that they had
not see any case except Zakaria in the last two months. Zakaria
received treatment at a local NGO-run hospital.
"But in
this period previously, we would see lot many cases," he said, adding
that people were more conscious today than in the past.
Nearly 56,000 cases were registered in malaria-prone 13 districts in 2010, while the number was about 64,000 in 2009.
The
number of severe malaria that is fatal also declined. In 2010, nearly
52,000 cases were recorded which was 58,000 in 2009.
Over
80 percent were cases reported from three hill districts–Rangamati,
Khagrachhari and Bandarban–located in remote dense forest border areas.
The next most cases are being reported from Cox's Bazar,
Chittagong, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Hobiganj, Netrakona,
Mymensingh, Sherpur and Kurigram.
Malaria expert Prof M A Faiz said early diagnosis was the key to save people from severe malaria.
"Earlier
many people would die, as they delayed in reaching health facilities at
far off places. But new drug in suppository form helped them save their
lives," he said.
But Faiz pointed out that climate
change could affect the pattern of malaria transmission. "It might have
dual effect – malaria may spread to new places or its presence may
shrink in highly prone areas.
"Long term study is needed to see actual effect of climate change in malaria."
Director
of an NGO working on malaria control in Sylhet region Shahid Uddin
Mahmud said malaria diagnosis and treatment were satisfactory, but
'special mosquito nets' were not available.
"Keeping people of low-lying and hilly areas out of risk is a big challenge," he observed.
So
far 1.7 million special mosquito nets were distributed in malaria-prone
districts, while another 1.3 will be distributed shortly.
Deputy
programme manager of government's malaria control programme Dr Jahirul
Karim said in the coming days, they would be able to distribute more
mosquito nets with the help of donors.
"Locally 1.5 million nets were treated with insecticides," he said.
Malaria
is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted through
the bites of infected mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in the liver,
and then infect red blood cells in the human body.
Symptoms
of malaria include high fever, chill, headache and vomiting, and
usually the symptoms appear between 10-15 days after the mosquito-bite.
It can become life-threatening fast by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs, if not treated.
Experts say malaria strikes vulnerable groups of people – children under the age of five and pregnant women.
source : bdnews24.com
