Malaria

female anopheles mosquito- the carrier

 

Malaria- (technical information courtesy of the internet and Ted Lankester’s “The Traveller’s Good Health Guide.”)

Somewhere around the 10^th to 14^th October I was bitten by a mosquito: a female Anopheles mosquito.

This would not have been different from any of the many mosquito bites grudgingly tolerated, except this mosquito was carrying a single celled parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria.

So, as the mosquito took some of my blood, she deposited into my blood stream a form of the parasite called a sporozoite which made its way into my liver. Without any noticeable symptoms, the sporozoite form of the parasite grew in my liver, becoming liver schizonts. This took about 2 weeks.

 On or around the 27-28^th October, these burst, releasing merezoites into my blood stream, while I felt an initial feverish symptom. The merezoites entered my red blood cells- the ones which carry oxygen- developing into trophozoites (which can be seen under a microscope), and then developed further into blood schizonts. Here a cycle was repeated- as blood schizonts burst from red blood cells, releasing more merezoites, while I experienced repeated bouts of increasingly feverish symptoms. Red blood cells are destroyed each time this process repeats- hence the tiredness associated with malaria.

On Sunday 28^th  October, after feeling a little under the weather for a few days, I rapidly began to feel ill- sweating, shivering, headache, total loss of energy, thankfully no sickness etc. Having witnessed and supported a fellow volunteer several days previously, who, in the space of five hours, went from general illness and sickness, through to hospital admission and intravenous malaria treatment plus saline rehydration, I knew I needed immediate medical attention.

As VSO volunteers working with government services or NGOs, we are privileged in having access to a vehicle and driver in case of emergency. It is recognised that for non- Africans, without acquired local immunity, suspected malaria has to be treated promptly. Within minutes of phoning, a car appeared and with my accompanying housemates, bumped and bounced us over the Zebilla tracks and roads to the nearest clinic. Here, facilities may be basic, the queues long, but the actual processing for testing and dispensing necessary treatment for malaria was streamlined and efficient. Happily I was prescribed necessary drugs and able to stay at home in my own bed while I recovered.

5 days later, with a second blood test showing negative for malaria, but in need of some iron supplements, I was feeling much better, and only tired in a post ‘flu sort of way.

Photo credit- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A boy watches his family set up a mosquito net.

Malaria is present in over 100 countries. It causes an estimated 1 million deaths a year, 85% of these being children under 5 years old.  3,000 children per day die from malaria related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa.  While the proper use of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide has measurable effects in reducing cases of malaria, longer term studies show mosquitoes developing resistance to insecticides while the malaria parasite becomes more resistant to the drugs used for treatment. Therefore the aim to develop a vaccine remains the only viable solution. That is one of the goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which as of 2012, has donated US$1.3 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Source- Ghana News Agency

 In 2004, the Ghana government introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), encouraging every adult and child to register and carry an NHIS identification card, for a payment of 3 Cedis (about £1) per person per year. On producing this card, the holder would be entitled to free basic health care at a hospital, clinic or village medical facility, including ante natal, maternity services and treatment for malaria. Although the cost of the NHIS card remains beyond the reach of the poorest, with take up currently at about 65% of the population, it has proved to be enormously successful in saving lives, particularly among children contracting malaria.