Malaria Awareness Week... Northern Ireland style
Helen Johnson, Senior Nurse in the Lisburn Independent Travel Health Clinic, trains and supports nurses/GPs who work in this speciality in Northern Ireland. Here she tells us how she pulled out the stops, creatively, to spread the word about malaria.
This year we celebrated Malaria Awareness Week in Lisburn Health Centre by placing a brightly decorated stand in the waiting area near the Travel Health Clinic check-in. To make it eye-catching I used red and black tissue paper – red for blood and black for malaria and mosquitoes flying in darkness – purely my creative idea!
Travellers were able to read information on malaria endemic areas and how the disease is spread, plus view the current figures on imported malaria in the UK – 1,548 cases in 2007 with five deaths.
To help travellers make an informed choice regarding their malaria medication, the display stand contained information on the need for travellers to provide details about their trip – destination, accommodation (urban or rural), length of stay and reason for travel.
Deciding about insect repellents is sometimes difficult so information on repellents and good bite avoidance measures was readily available along with details about the different types of medication.
I purchased an ornamental green flying insect, but realising that this insect did not in any way resemble a mosquito, I tried my hand at a little poem.
Mossie Awareness
She’s not a friendly little miss
Her touch upon you brings no bliss
So watch at night as she takes flight
Leaving you with her deadly bite.
My husband Ed saw my attempt and further enhanced it. The poem caused some amusement among our travellers and colleagues; however, it also gave rise to plenty of chat about malaria.
During the consultation and risk assessment in our clinic, travellers had further opportunity to discuss their malaria needs and received a travel information pack complete with relevant websites so they could read all about it.
On reflection this was a very useful opportunity to talk to travellers and colleagues about malaria, empowering them with correct current information and – I hope – ensuring they take the necessary steps to be fully protected against this potentially fatal disease.
World Malaria Report 2008 is available from the World Health Organisation.
MALARIA WATCH
New malaria treatment
A new low-cost fixed dose combination drug to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Latin America and South East Asia has been launched. The initiative is a joint project of seven organisations and the combination of artesunate and mefloquine is available in a single tablet. Funding came from the European Union, and the governments of the UK, France and Spain. BMJ (April 2008) 336, News 85419
Ignoring malaria advice
The HPA’s Malaria Reference Laboratory published a study in the BMJ showing that in spite of measures available to protect against malaria, the burden of disease among UK travellers has steadily increased over the last 20 years. Figures for the UK in 2007 published in April showed 1,548 cases reported. Where a reason for travel was noted, 72 per cent of cases in UK travellers were in those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). Figures also showed that 83 per cent of cases had not taken chemoprophylaxis.
Smith, AD; Bradley, DJ; Smith, V et al (2008) Imported malaria and high risk groups: observational study using UK surveillance data 1987–2006, BMJ, 337: a120.
Global Fund advances
Figures from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria show that advances are being made in tackling these diseases. Some 59 million impregnated bed nets (double the number issued last year) had been distributed to families at risk of malaria. Evidence shows that mortality rates among children under five has fallen sharply in 10 sub-Saharan countries, with malaria almost eradicated in Zanzibar.
Cash injection and malaria pledge
At a summit in New York world leaders and philanthropists pledged nearly $3 billion (£1.6 billion) to fight malaria. The meeting looked at ways of meeting the Millennium Development Goals – targets on reducing global poverty by the year 2015. Donors hope the money will be enough to eradicate malaria by then.
WHO World Malaria Report
Available from the World Health Organisation.
Dodgy antimalarial drugs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has an excellent section on counterfeit and substandard antimalarial drugs from the CDC website.
Dodgy dealers
A British man was given a suspended prison sentence for dealing in counterfeit drugs. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) became suspicious when examining health care products at Heathrow.