What is the #1 health challenge in Kenya?

Many Americans might be surprised at the answer to this question. It's not hunger. It's not HIV/AIDS. It's malaria.

We offer a bit of information on this disease today in acknowledgment of World Malaria Day, April 25, 2010, established to commemorate the global effort to provide effective control of malaria around the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria is caused by parasites of the species plasmodium that are spread from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Though preventable and curable, if not treated promptly with effective medicines, malaria can often be fatal.

A few global stats from the WHO:

• A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
• There were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006, causing nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.
• Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries.
• Malaria takes an economic toll -- cutting economic growth rates by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates.

This 4-minute video recorded in 2007 gives a view of the distribution of malaria in the world:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjToy9rlDq4

Kenya's Division of Malaria Control tells us that malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, with 25 million of the 34 million Kenyans at risk. Malaria accounts for 30-50% of all outpatient attendance and 20% of all admissions to health facilities in Kenya. The groups most vulnerable to malaria infections are pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. Malaria is estimated to cause 20% of all deaths in children under five.

Travelers from malaria-free areas to disease "hot spots" are especially vulnerable to the disease, according to the WHO. Travelers from the U.S. – including our ESHA travelers – should obtain anti-malarial medication when getting immunizations for travel.

Claudia Daggett