Malaria is a life-threatening and devastating parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria affects 50% of the world’s population putting 3.3 billion people at risk in 109 countries. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in the developing world. According to the WHO an estimated 247 million cases of malaria every year cause nearly 1 million deaths. 86% of deaths due to malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

Those who are most at risk are young children and pregnant women. In Africa a child dies from the disease every 30 seconds. Pregnant women and their unborn children are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from malaria during this time, due to a lower immune system during pregnancy. Malaria is a major cause of maternal mortality and low birth weight.

Malaria has been brought under control and even eliminated in much of Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia. However, sub-Saharan Africa is still home to the most severe and life-threatening form of malaria, plasmodium falciparum. There are several reasons for this, including a tropical climate, increasing drug resistance and crumbling health systems. Infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa have actually increased over the last three decades and insome parts of Asia and Latin America, rates are still too high.

 

Malaria is both preventable and curable. However, malaria is intimately linked with poverty – as both a root cause and a consequence of poverty. Malaria is most intractable for the poorest countries in the world and those living on low incomes and in rural areas that lack the information, money or access to health care are the most vulnerable.

 

The human suffering and loss of life caused by malaria is often matched by the economic burden on families with a malaria sufferer. Costs for doctors fees, anti-malarial drugs and transport to health facilities put an unbearable strain on household resources – in Ghana, for example malaria can cost up to 34% of a household's income.

 

Malaria is probably one of the oldest diseases known to mankind that has had profound impact on our history. But for malaria, the outcomes of many a wars and destinies of many a kings would have been different. It has been responsible for the decline of nations and crushing military defeats, often having caused more casualties than the weapons themselves. For centuries it prevented any economic development in vast regions of the earth.  It continues to be a huge social, economical and health problem, particularly in the tropical countries. History of malaria and its terrible effects is as ancient as the history of civilization, therefore history of mankind itself. Read More