World Malaria Day

Every year on April 25, World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated. The goal of this day was to take immediate action in the fight against the fatal illness. Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread by mosquito bites carrying the parasite. Female Anopheles mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria, through their saliva. World Malaria Day is also celebrated to educate people about this dreaded disease. 

It is, however, a curable and avoidable infectious illness. Many countries throughout the world are already making progress in this direction. Malaria-related fatalities decreased by 40% globally between 2000 and 2014, indicating that the world has achieved historic success against the disease, saving millions of lives. Students in school are encouraged to give world malaria day speech where they can educate other students too about this dreaded disease. 

Furthermore, WHO encourages nations to maintain malaria service continuity during the epidemic as long as best measures for protecting health workers and communities are followed.

The goal of World Malaria Day is to promote awareness about the importance of malaria prevention, control, and eradication. This day also commemorates the ongoing progress in the fight against malaria. It is also important to educate the public so that they have a better awareness of the disease malaria and how to treat it. Let us remind you that Plasmodium parasites cause Malaria, which is a life-threatening disease.

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How does Malaria Spreads

• Malaria is spread by mosquitos that have been infected with the disease. The malaria parasite enters your circulation when you are bitten by a mosquito carrying the infection. It then travels to your liver and replicates there.

• If a mosquito bites you when you're sick with malaria, the mosquito becomes infected and can pass the parasite on to the next person it infects.

• To avoid contracting the illness, avoid bug bites and take anti-malarial medication.

• The anopheles mosquito is the only vector that can transmit the parasite. It feeds every seven days, and if it has already bitten someone with malaria, it carries the malaria parasite.

• Mosquitoes are the parasite's carrier and are responsible for spreading the disease in high-risk locations. As a result, avoiding mosquito bites is an important component of your prophylactic.

Severe Malaria

The World Malaria Day also explains how severe malaria is danger.  When infections are exacerbated by major organ failures or anomalies in the patient's blood or metabolism, severe malaria develops. The following are some of the symptoms of severe malaria:

• Cerebral malaria is characterized by aberrant behavior, awareness impairment, seizures, coma, or other neurologic abnormalities.

• Hemolysis-induced severe anemia (destruction of the red blood cells)

• Hemoglobinuria (urinary hemoglobin) is a condition caused by Hemolysis.

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an inflammatory reaction in the lungs that prevents oxygen exchange and can happen even after parasite levels have dropped as a result of therapy.

• Low blood pressure as a result of a heart attack or stroke

• Severe Kidney damage 

• Malaria parasites infect more than 5% of red blood cells, resulting in hyperparasitemia.

• Excessive acidity in the blood and tissue fluids, which is frequently associated with hypoglycemia.

• Hypoglycemia is a state of low blood sugar (low blood glucose). Hypoglycemia can also happen in pregnant women who have uncomplicated malaria or after quinine therapy.

World Malaria Day- The Theme for the Day

Every year there is a theme on World Malaria Day. In 2021, the theme of World Malaria Day was “Reaching the zero malaria target”. This year, WHO and partners will commemorate World Malaria Day by recognizing the accomplishments of countries that are on their way to eliminating malaria. They serve as an example to other countries trying to eradicate this terrible illness and enhance the health and well-being of their people.

History of World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day grew out of Africa Malaria Day, which took place for the first time in 2008. It is essentially an occurrence that African countries have been tracking since 2001. They worked on achieving the progress objective of controlling malaria and lowering death rates in African countries.

In 2007, at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, a conference hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that Africa Malaria Day be renamed World Malaria Day to recognize the prevalence of malaria in nations throughout the world and to raise global awareness about the illness. World Malaria Day also provides an opportunity for new contributors to join the worldwide fight against malaria, as well as for research and academic institutions to share scientific breakthroughs with the general public.

The day also provides an opportunity for foreign partners, corporations, and foundations to display their work and reflect on how to scale up what has been successful.

Importance of World Malaria Day

Despite the fact that malaria is a preventable and treatable illness, it is important to give world malaria day speech on how a child dies from this deadly illness every two minutes throughout the world, with more than 200 million cases recorded each year, according to WHO. According to another WHO estimate, there were 219 million cases of malaria in 87 countries in 2017, with 435,000 deaths.

According to the report by WHO, the majority of malaria cases have been reported in ten African countries, including Niger, Congo, Uganda, and Mali. In these nations, malaria cases increased by 3.5 million in 2017. These results suggest that the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016's two key objectives of reducing malaria incidence and associated fatalities by at least 40% by 2020 will not be fulfilled.

Diagnosis of Malaria

Those who are experiencing signs of malaria should contact a doctor as soon as possible. Consider malaria in any patient who has recently returned from a malaria-endemic country and has a fever.

The most essential approach for diagnosing malaria is blood smear microscopy. Microscopy can offer rapid information regarding the presence of parasites, measurement of the infection density, and identification of the malaria parasite species—all of which are important for giving the most effective therapy. Microscopy findings should be available in a few hours at the most.

Common Symptoms of Malaria

1. Fever

Fever is one of the most prevalent signs of malaria. Also, if you live in an area with stagnant water, you should consult a doctor to determine whether or not you have malaria.

2. Severe Headache

Malaria patients will experience a severe headache as a result of their illness. While these natural treatments are preferable to painkillers, it is important not to ignore it if it is accompanied by fever and chills.

3. Chills

Even if the weather isn't particularly chilly, those suffering with Malaria may feel the need for a blanket. If you see your doctor with a fever, headache, and chills, he or she would most likely suggest a blood test to identify malaria.

4. Perspiration

If you're chilly and shivering, then you are certainly contracted with malaria. As a result, it is critical to get treatment before your body is further harmed by malaria.

5. Tiredness

Malaria causes fatigue as a normal side effect since the fever and headache might make you lose your appetite and make you feel weak. Some foods, such as papaya and oranges, may assist to alleviate weakness.

6. Vomiting and Nausea

This is a symptom that many illnesses have, and malaria is no exception. Vomiting is the actual expulsion of food from your stomach via your mouth, whereas nausea is the desire to vomit.

Facts About Malaria

There are certain facts about malaria, which you should be aware of-

• The Plasmodium parasite causes malaria. Malaria is transmitted to humans by bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, often known as "malaria vectors." The parasite is delivered into the circulation when a mosquito bites.

• Plasmodium parasites come in a variety of forms, but did you know that only five kinds of plasmodium cause malaria in humans? Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium knowlesi are the parasites in question.

• Plasmodium falciparum is the most common malaria species in Sub-Saharan Africa and is responsible for the majority of malaria fatalities worldwide.

• Plasmodium vivax is the second most common parasite, found in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

• Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale together create a latent liver stage problem that can be treated.

• Malaria is a feverish disease with a high mortality rate. It generally takes 10-15 days for symptoms to develop after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Its early symptoms include fever, headache, and a chilling sensation.

• Vector control, which includes the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying, is the most effective approach to prevent and decrease malaria transmission.