Global Health

Women leading the charge against malaria in Cameroon

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We’ve recent tools, however it’s medical examiners on the front lines who can assist fight malaria.

No person should die from malaria. It’s unacceptable that a whole lot of hundreds of individuals lose their lives yearly on account of a disease that has plagued us for millennia. As African Ministers of Health highlighted On the Malaria Ministerial Conference held last month in Yaoundé, Cameroon, we’ve the tools to finish this disease for good.

Tools comparable to the newest nets containing a double energetic substance (AI) coated with two insecticides, making them more practical within the fight against mosquitoes which have turn out to be resistant to straightforward nets. Other tools include indoor residual spraying, seasonal malaria prophylaxis for youngsters under 5 years of age, and periodic preventive treatments to guard pregnant women from the disease. And now two recent vaccines – RTS, S and R21 – are the newest additions to the toolkit. All of those tools are simplest when used together as a part of comprehensive national malaria control plans.

Nevertheless, tools alone won’t be enough to finish malaria. Their success depends entirely on the strength of the health systems through which they’re implemented. Ultimately, these health systems depend on trained and integrated health personnel to achieve and serve the communities most affected by malaria.

These are people on the front lines fighting the consequences of malaria of their communities. Working together, doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, midwives and health care employees play a key role in fighting infectious diseases and providing lifesaving prevention and treatment services.

There may be a crucial gender aspect to think about: nearly all of healthcare employees are women. These women provide health care mainly to nurses, midwives and health care employees about 5 billion people global.

During my recent visit to Cameroon, where your complete population of 27 million people is prone to malaria, I had the honour of meeting three incredible women who’re leading the fight against this disease.

At Soa District Hospital, I met with Emily Itondo, a midwife who conducts prenatal visits with women in the neighborhood, providing them with malaria-preventing drugs referred to as intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) and insecticide-treated bed nets. When a pregnant woman is infected with malaria, her baby could also be born significantly underweight, which may end up in health complications and even death. Emily explained that in consultations she systematically screens pregnant women for malaria and provides them with the preventive tools they need.

At the identical hospital, Danielle Ekoto, chief nurse and manager of the immunization service, told me about her role in leading the hospital’s immunization program. Cameroon is the primary country on the planet to incorporate the RTS,S malaria vaccine in its national immunization program. Nurse Danielle and her colleagues have been vaccinating children as young as 6 months with the malaria vaccine since January this 12 months.

Providing access to health care also is determined by trust; people have to feel secure and be treated with care and dignity. That is why the work of local health care employees is so necessary.

The profound impact of those connections was evident after I accompanied Amélie Tachifo, a healthcare employee, on a house visit to certainly one of the families she supports: Melissa’s mother, Tomnjong’s father, and their two children, Gabriella and Tony-Jason.

Amélie has been supporting the family for six years. Melissa calls her “my sister.” And I understand why.

It was Amélie they called at 2 a.m. when Melissa went into labor together with her now 3-year-old daughter, Gabriella, once they couldn’t find anyone else to assist and had no technique of attending to the hospital.

It was Amélie who they called last 12 months when Melissa and little Gabriella got sick. Melissa was pregnant together with her second child. Amélie took them each to a neighborhood hospital where they were diagnosed with malaria. Gabriella was admitted for 4 days but recovered, thanks partially to how quickly she was diagnosed and sent for treatment.

It was Amélie who made sure that after this terrifying incident, Melissa received IPTp throughout her pregnancy and the entire family slept under a brand new double AI mosquito net.

And it was Amélie who told her family concerning the malaria vaccine. Eight-month-old Tony-Jason was vaccinated at Soa District Hospital in February this 12 months.

In each area of ​​their work, nurse Danielle, midwife Emily and native medical expert Amélie provide critical malaria interventions that together contribute to a comprehensive and coherent approach to the disease. Their role is key to a well-functioning health care system and the general health and well-being of the communities they serve.

The reality is that without their tireless efforts, the fight against malaria wouldn’t be possible.

This must translate into appropriate support, training, protection and financial compensation for them. For instance, despite their critical role, health care employees do they are sometimes underpaid or not paid in any respect. In Amélie’s case, the small stipend she receives means she has to take up one other job to complement her income.

Tools are only one piece of the puzzle. On World Malaria Day, allow us to not forget that global progress is being driven by these heroic medical examiners on the front lines – most of them women. The world owes them respect and recognition.

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