I have been following intelligently most of the articles wri wide viewers of this site on the above subject. Africa and her people have been rendered poorer my this monster called malaria. Infact it kills faster than HIV and TB. Man hours are lost as a result of malaria infestation. Children absent from school because of malaria.
In most cases candidates writing major exams have missed their papers or failed their exams as a result of malaria, thus affecting their career.
Towards its cure and eradication, so much has been budgeted and spent while minimal results are achieved. Most programs available have emphasised on the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets as a means of control.
In Bill Nestler's article published on this site, He/She said that the biggest problem with all the malaria control programs was the lack of vector control component.......... .
This is very true and is not debatable. Mosquitoes are vectors for malaria. It bits people in their offices, bits children in school, bites peoples while in their vehicles, cars and every where .
The questions therefore are: will school children use nets when they are in their classes? Will workers use nets while working in their respective offices and going about their businesses? Will people cover themselves up while in their vehicles? While not discarding the use addressed if any meaningful result is to be achieved In most African cities, there are no single drainage systems. The gutters are very dirty and have created a good breading place for mosquitoes. In places where there are drainages, dirts and wastes have been used to block them due to poor refuse disposal system thereby compounding the drainage problem.
While the efforts of international donors towards the control of malaria are appreciated, the huge resources spent may not translate to good outcome if the vector control component is not critically addressed. Public Health has taught us that prevention is better than cure. Complete eradication of malaria can be achieved when the entire African nation and international donor agencies focus more on the vector control program rather than the use of treated nets, which has limited uses . This is possible and is achievable !.
Augustine
Biomedical Scientist/Clinical Research Associate
+234-702-829-9663
mailto:vip4162003@yahoo.co.uk