Georgetown : The Health Ministry in collaboration with its international partners and national stakeholders will, in 2013, continue its surveillance and upgrade and expand its malaria prevention and control activities and interventions.
Major among these are the distribution of 50,000 LLINs starting from January 15, 2013, mass blood and fever surveys every 21 days in all mining camps and villages, complete radical cure of every confirmed malaria case based on standard treatment guidelines, and extend outreaches and mass health education and awareness programmes to poor and vulnerable groups and engaging new national partners.
Indal Rambajan, Director, Malaria Programme stressed that government’s interventions over the last five years have been remarkable with Global Fund, PAHO/WHO and USAID giving support. In terms of financial contributions, government committed $180M, Global Fund $300M and PAHO/WHO, $100M. Rambajan pointed out that the cases of malaria are greatly impacted by the increase of miners from 15,000 in 2005 to over 130,000 today. This is also influenced by the increase of the price of gold on the world market which is expected to increase further in 2013. On a yearly basis there is an average of 10,000 to 15,000 detected cases of malaria.
He explained that while Amerindians are directly exposed and affected by malaria, 95 percent of the reported cases include miners and persons working in the mining sector. Guyana has two types of malaria mosquitoes – the anopheles darling, who is found in the hinterland, and anopheles aquasalis curry found mostly on the coast. The former is a very effective and efficient vector while the latter is weak. Additionally, Guyana has three of the five malaria parasites.
Rambajan explained that the Unit is faced with a challenge in that people are not completing the treatment cycle of the medication. There is a 30-40 percent of interrupted treatment. Coartem is the most effective drug being used to fight malaria locally, and Rambajan noted that the drug is so effective that after 24 hours, 99.9 percent of the clinical signs and symptoms are gone for six weeks.
Another mechanism being used to reduce the spread of malaria is the Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs) of which 115,000 have been distributed with support from the Government and international partners. The insecticide treated nets offer up to five years of protection and some communities have also been taught how to ‘re-treat’ them.
You must be logged in to post a comment.