Malaria prevention

In the short movie, during the time of watching 4 children die of malaria (one child per 30 seconds), we could hear, a few ideas how to prevent this disease. What was most important in this movie was the fact that malaria is preventable – so we could avoid many deaths if we had followed some rules. Red Cross and red crescent organizations are cooperating with others partners organizations to distribute insecticide-treated nets where malaria is a big danger. They also train volunteers to teach society, going from house to house, how to hang and use these nets. The organizations also ensure that children under five and pregnant woman have access to nets and provide awareness campaign how prevent this disease.

TB and HIV/AIDS

Also other infectious diseases are very dangerous in African, Asian Countries and Western Pacific Countries. Except malaria, which is the cause of one million deaths per year, but 3.3 billion people are in risk of malaria, the big problem are tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. The first one is a contagious disease and it spreads through the air. To become sick person have to inhale only a small portion of TB germs, so it is very easy to catch it. That’s why one person can infect approximately 10-15 people. The data are ruthless – 2 billion people are infected with TB. In the year 2009 1.7 million died because of this disease. The experts all over the world are focusing how to prevent this problem. In year 2006 they launched the program “Stop TB Strategy”. The end of this program is estimated to 2015. There are six points of this strategy:

- pursue high-quality DOTS expansion and enhancement

- addressing TB/HIV, MDR-TB and the needs of poor and vulnerable populations.

- contribute to health system strengthening based on primary health care.

- engage all care providers.

- empower people with TB, and communities through partnership.

- enable and promote research.

Also In Millennium Development Goals there is mentioned the problem of TB:
Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of TB by 2015
To fulfill this aim experts use the DOTS worldwide. 41 million TB patients have been successfully treated in DOTS till this day, so if ill person is being properly treated, it has big chances it will get healthy.

Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) makes that immune system of a human get worse, because of destroying its cells. It is very easy to get infected, because of the fact that it is sexual and blood transmitted. In year 2008 there were 33.4 million people living with HIV, and two million died from it. Two thirds of HIV infections were reported in Sub-Saharan Africa.




Used by writing:

Ruxin, J., Paluzzi, J., Wilson, P., Tosan, Y., Kruk, M. & Teklehaimanot, A. 2005. Emerging consensus in HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and access to essential medicines. (pdf) The Lancet, Vol. 365 (12), 618-621.
WHO Fact sheets: Malaria, 10 Facts on Malaria
WHO Fact sheets: Tuberculosis, 10 Facts about Tuberculosis
WHO Health Topics: HIV/AIDS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5c4kQ5S7qE&feature=player_embedded