DR Congo: " There is no childhood's end I am your childhood friend..."

France 24 reports. ( Translated by some translation service and cleaned up by me errors are mine alone.)  I am guessing this is a collaborative effort but Charly Kasereka whose work appears often on this blog has given a Goma perspective. Charly has blogged the story on his own blog ( something I discovered after working on this ). I have used additional material from Charly's blog and have broken with my usual convention of not making comments on Charly's work.

Anti-malaria nets diverted for gardening in Goma

                                                                           A fenced garden Butembo by nets

Each year about 180,000 people die from malaria in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, many of the beneficiaries of the campaign to distribute mosquito nets, initiated by the government, do not use the nets to prevent the spread of the malaria virus, but rather for gardening.

I am only too well aware of the malaria issues facing both Uganda and the DDR Congo having recently had family in Uganda and still having family members in Goma. Charly Kasereka blogs

" Children under 5 years and pregnant women are the main victims of this disease in several provinces of the DRC my country , that's according to statistics from the WHO / DRC."

One of our observers in Goma, eastern DRC, took these photos that show how mosquito nets, treated with anti-mosquito products are used to protect trees from insects or to create fences in gardens .

"One of our observers..."  shades of Graham Greene  " Our man in in Havana " Goma, a lot of people rely on Kasereka to get news of the Kivus out to the world.

This phenomenon is not unique to the DRC: it has been observed in many African countries where malaria is endemic, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The uses are many: the nets have been used in the manufacture of fishing nets, cages for hens, or even veils for wedding dresses. The alternative uses are often the result of a lack of information about the real purpose of these nets.

A few facts about the malaria burden that Africa suffers under. The World Health Organisation (WHO ) reports.

" According to the latest estimates, released in December 2013, there were about 207 million cases of malaria in 2012 (with an uncertainty range of 135 million to 287 million) and an estimated 627 000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 473 000 to 789 000). Malaria mortality rates have fallen by 45% globally since 2000, and by 49% in the WHO African Region.

Most deaths occur among children living in Africa where a child dies every minute from malaria. Malaria mortality rates among children in Africa have been reduced by an estimated 54% since 2000. "

                                                                  Net in a garden of Goma. Photo: Charly Kasereka.

"These people use them for gardening, while others wait to receive them"
Charly Kasereka is a reporter for a local radio station in Goma, North Kivu.

In Goma, I found that nets were used not only to cover the beds, but many other things too. They surround mango, fence home gardens, and fill the holes in the fences. We see it everywhere here, and elsewhere in the region.

It breaks my heart that malaria continues to kill because people do not properly use these nets that are distributed free. Medical centers that are part of the national program against malaria, provide education on the use of the nets. Each family receives a number of nets based on the number of people in the household. For example, for a family of five, they will receive two.

Charly on his blog gives further information from Goma.

" Several strategies have been implemented, awareness campaigns and the distribution of mosquito nets, but the disease remains. In my neighborhood there are at least ten clinics and health centers alongside a multitude of pharmacies. Everywhere we speak only of malaria. At these clinics and health centers , 99% of the patients are suffering from malaria."

But some unscrupulous people registering for mosquito nets exaggerate the number of people in their family, others go to different distribution points to receive more. A guy in my neighborhood has even boasted of three nets for himself.These people use them for gardening, while others are still waiting to receive one!

                                   A mosquito net to protect fruit trees from birds and insects. Photo: Charly Kasereka.

The tragedy is that this is a preventable and curable disease.

Africa: Drug-resistant malaria coming soon

The Australian reports

Malaria could spur war on all diseases 

• BY:

DOUG CONWAY

THE search for new medicines to beat drug-resistant malaria could spur developments in the fight against other diseases.

"Malaria could be the tide that lifts all the boats," said Dr Alan Magill, director of the malaria program for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He told an international malaria conference in Sydney on Thursday that the goal was not only to find new drugs to treat malaria, but to find "quality medicines for all patients with all diseases".

Yes I can see the point Magill is making but a drug-resistant malaria is a real worry I would have of thought priorities need to be thought about.

Dr Magill said substandard, poor quality and counterfeit drugs had encouraged malaria drug resistance, which has been detected in the Greater Mekong region of Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam.

Experts have warned of a potential 25 per cent spike in deaths, particularly if that strain reaches Africa. That equates to some 200,000 more lives lost each year.

It is funny heartbreaking how it always seems to be Africa that has to pay the price. "...substandard, poor quality and counterfeit drugs...." Bet someone made some money on that.

Latest World Health Organisation (WHO) figures for 2010 show 216 million cases of malaria resulting in 655,000 deaths, although unofficial estimates put that figure at up to 900,000, the vast bulk of them in Africa.

In the Asia-Pacific 30 million people contract the disease each year, resulting in 42,000 deaths.

Dr Magill said the Asia-Pacific had a global responsibility to address the drug resistance in a "very aggressive fashion".

Agreed. But  we should also be going after the people who are making lousy pills. Making money out of the misery deaths of others.

As a manufacturer of much of the world's anti-malaria tools, the region also had a responsibility to produce high quality products, such as bed nets treated with insecticide.

The conference has heard that while the world seeks the next generation of drugs, more must be done to contain or slow down the spread of drug-resistant malaria.

Experts have told the meeting it could be five years before a new drug is produced.

The cost of finding and developing new drugs has been estimated at $1 billion over 10 years.

Wow a whole 1 billion over 10 years it is bloody laugable, lets try

 

a fun figure. It is 16 trillion dollars. The US debt as of today.

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
$3.90 billion per day since September 28, 2007!

Just wanted to put $1 billion dollars over 10 years into perspective.