Johannesburg - Zero. That is the number of locally transmitted cases of malaria that South Africa intends to have by 2018.
This according to the national Department of Health, which stated its ambitions before World Malaria Day on Monday (April 25).
The global theme for the day is End Malaria for Good.
The World Health Organisation’s World Malaria Report 2015 states that there has been a major decline in global malaria cases and deaths since the year 2000, with mortality decreased by 60 percent, so 62 million lives were saved. Moreover, 57 countries reduced malaria cases by at least 75 percent between 2000 and last year.
“The Department of Health has been very successful in reducing the malaria incidence in South Africa and has met the malaria targets of the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs). “South Africa has reversed the malaria incidence by 82 percent of the levels in the year 2000,” said the department’s spokesperson Popo Maja.
In January, South Africa was presented with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) award for achieving the malaria goal of the MDGs at the ALMA meeting for Heads of State and Government of the AU.
According to the WHO, last year 95 countries had ongoing malaria transmission, placing about 3.2 billion people - half the world’s population - at risk of malaria.
The South African Medical Association (Sama) said almost 9 000 cases of malaria were reported in South Africa in 2013/14, which resulted in 105 deaths.
Malaria is seasonal (transmission occurring between September and May) in South Africa and occurs in certain areas in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. It accounts for 40 percent of all public health spending in Africa, killing up to 438 000 people each year - mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Symptoms vary from flu-like effects - such as severe headaches, fever, joint pains, shivering episodes, nausea and vomiting - to more serious symptoms like severe breathing difficulties, low blood sugar, severe anaemia, renal failure, repeated vomiting, shock, hypoglycaemia, black urine, abnormal bleeding or even a coma.
“Malaria is a real threat, although it is sometimes not as widely reported on as other diseases,” said Sama chairman Dr Mzukisi Grootboom.
“We need every South African to be aware of the dangers of malaria and take the necessary precautions. Although there are no vaccines available for the malaria parasite, a research vaccine against it, known as RTS S/AS01, was implemented in pilots during October 2015 in a limited number of African countries.
“This trial could pave the way for wider deployment of the vaccine within three to five years.”
SA National Blood Service communications manager Vanessa Raju said the most effective ways to prevent getting infected were by using mosquito nets and appropriate insecticides.
The Star