UN estimates 2 million Somalis are threatened by malaria

2011-10-18 21:06:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) has warned of a potential malaria outbreak in Somalia where two million people are already suffering from drought, famine and conflict. Urgent measures are needed.

The combined conditions of drought, famine and conflict put people at a higher risk of contracting the disease during the current rainy season. The UN has called on its partners to escalate their response measures to prevent a malaria outbreak in the African country.

Sikander Khan, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Somalia representative, said the health of many Somalis is already extremely compromised due to the drought and famine, especially children who are suffering from malnutrition. "With the rains come an increased risk of malaria," Khan said.

"We must act as swiftly as possible to prevent deaths due to this deadly disease. We are working with our partners on prevention as well as providing treatment services as necessary," he stated, adding that in order to prevent malaria deaths, humanitarian organizations must act swiftly.

Malaria, which is caused by a parasite transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, kills nearly 800,000 people around the world every year with most of the deaths occurring in Africa.

UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have engaged in a large-scale campaign which consists of distributing protection kits according to each region's needs and educating people on the ways to prevent and treat the disease.

In the next weeks, 280,000 long-lasting insecticide treated nets will be distributed in drought-affected regions such as Hiran, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Juba and Middle Juba in south-central Somalia. Over 140,000 households will receive the kits in addition to the 79,000 nets which have already been distributed since July.

In the Somali capital of Mogadishu, where nets are not practical, 45,000 households will receive indoor spraying which will protect them for three to four months, and will be re-sprayed in March and April next year.

In addition, health facilities throughout high-risk areas will be equipped with 560,000 doses of anti-malaria drugs as well as with the ability to provide one million rapid diagnostic tests and the capacity to treat cases.

In recent years, the number of malaria cases in Somalia has decreased by 57 percent, from 1.73 million cases in 2005 to 740,000 cases in 2009. This is largely due to the development of new, more effective drugs, rapid diagnostic tests and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, all of which did not exist 10 years ago, as well as the increase in international funding to prevent the disease.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-18

Don't like to say this: but it's a way of lessening human habitation in inhabitable terrain. Mother Nature seeks balance. That part of the world has the carrying capacity for about 1 family per five acres in good times. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of families there with no remote means of support. In Mali, there was 1 solitary tree in a 500 sq. mile radius. A car backed in to it, knocked it over, then the tree was cut up for firewood. Go figure. They don't even know (or even discuss?) what types of crops to grow which might be suited for the abysmal climate and soil conditions there. The only crops which can grow there are those that can withstand 3 year droughts and depleted soil = opuntia.