Increase in economic activities presents major challenge in malaria fight - Ramsammy

Increase in economic activities presents major challenge in malaria fight – Ramsammy

Mar 23, 2011 News

Retaining a declining trajectory as it relates to the impact of malaria is likely to be a major challenge given the increase of economic activities in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10, according to Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
And this is particularly due to the increase of mining and the work currently being done to establish the Amaila Falls project, which the Minister noted, is likely to see a number of people being exposed to vectors.
For this reason, he said, the Ministry has defined plans to continually work with various entrepreneurs and private investors to ensure that every possible measure is put in place to control the threatening vectors. He asserted that with efforts being directed at early diagnosis and treatment of malaria there is a greater potential of controlling and even preventing the disease altogether.
Although there were annual reductions of the disease over the years, last year the Ministry recorded a spike in malaria which saw additional measures being implemented to address the challenge.
These measures, the Minister revealed, have since contributed to a 20 percent reduction of the vector-borne disease. As at the end of the eighth epidemiological week of last year there were 3,300 reported cases of malaria compared to 2,000 cases during the same period this year, indicating that a significant reduction has occurred.
In the early 1990s the Ministry of Health had documented 90,000 cases of malaria on an annual basis, at a time when there was about 40 to 60 percent under-reporting. In actual fact, the Minister said, there were between 120,000 and 140,000 cases per year. However, by 2005 the Ministry was able to reduce the cases to about 42,000 with significant improvements in its information system to guard against the potential of under-reporting. By the end of 2009 there was a further reduction of cases evident by the 11,000 that were reported.
“We have done a fantastic job bringing malaria under control,” the Minister boasted recently. He revealed that as at the end of 2009, the Ministry had seen approximately 80 to 90 percent reduction of malaria compared to 2005.
And according to him, the Ministry of Health is still working towards the ambitious target of fewer than 8,000 cases by 2012, adding that “…we will not be deterred by the challenges of 2010 and the temporal reversal of the declining trajectory in Guyana. We will therefore utilise 2011 to return to the declining trajectory as if 2010 didn’t happen.” However the Minister noted that while the Ministry is not looking to reduce the 2010 figure, it is however looking to get back on the trajectory of decline so that by the end of this year figures of under 10,000 will be realised.
“It is going to be a major challenge…but we are working to prevent and control malaria. We are providing support to the regions in their struggle to control malaria. We will continue to do so and ensure that we return to the trajectory of decline for malaria.”
At a press conference on Saturday, the Minister disclosed that over the last week he had met with all of the Regional Health Officers and other senior officers from Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, Nine and, 10 in an attempt to realise further reduction of malaria. And there have been certain lines of action that have been agreed upon which would see the utilisation of Rapid Response Teams.
The Response Team initiative was established in response to increased malaria cases in September of last year and was designed to have medical personnel visit the Regions to seek out certain hot spots and to work along with the local teams.

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Increase in economic activities presents major challenge in malaria fight – Ramsammy

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