Malaria In Sub-Saharan Africa

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 214 million cases of malaria reported in 2015, with mortality count has risen to more than 438,000 people dying from Malaria (parasite transmitted by mosquitos). Ninety-one percent of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite disease mortality rates falling by 37 percent since 2000, a child in Africa still dies every minute from malaria.

What is malaria? A deadly disease that was once has taken many lives, which are long forgotten in this day of age. Malaria once considered as one of the world's most dangerous tropical parasitic diseases. It claims more lives than any other communicable disease other than tuberculosis. It more prominent in Africa and other under developing countries,

The WHO reported that there was a seventeen percent of globally declining in malaria incidence between the year of 2000 and 2010, which was significantly lower than the proposed target of fifty percent rate (WHO, 2012). This statistical data reveals that many hurdles remain to overcome. However, an encouraging reduction of 33% in the malaria-specific mortality rate has observed in the African region. The RBM (Roll Back Malaria) initiative foresees the need for continuation of malaria control efforts until global malaria eradication can be obtainable in the long-term. However reaching the RBM goal will necessitate an increase in funding resources, a marked economic progress in countries with extreme poverty, and the maintenance or increase of the long-lasting insecticide-treated net coverage. (WHO,

Other sign includes chills, sweats, myalgia, headache, nausea and vomiting and symptoms that indicate severe malaria are confusion, seizure, and shortness of breath. Some physical examination finding includes elevated temperature, diaphoresis, increases weakness, and enlarge spleen. Severe disease tangible result includes jaundice and focal neurologic signs. CDC recommends that testing for the disease should be done microscopically on the same day the patient present for care. Microscopic blood smear sample is the gold standard to diagnose disease. Follow by RDT (rapid diagnostic test) a P. falciparum antigen detection, which allows faster diagnosis of malaria when the microscope is no readily available, molecular diagnostic by looking into the polymerase chain reactions and antibody detection test which is only useful when diagnosing past infections, but not recommend to diagnose acute malarial