Malaria - Ethiopa

What is malaria?

Malaria is a vector-borne disease caused by a parasite carried by Anopheles mosquitoes.

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Initially, there are no symptoms. Later, flu-like symptoms appear, including fever, chills, nausea, headaches, exhaustion, and diarrhoea.

How many people contract malaria annually?

Approximately 240 million people contract malaria annually.

Where is malaria most prevalent?

Malaria is mostly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in regions with low development levels.

What factors make Ethiopia vulnerable to malaria?

70% of Ethiopia’s population is at risk due to tropical climates, poverty, stagnant water, and limited healthcare access.

What are the economic costs of malaria in Ethiopia?

In 2020, malaria cost Ethiopia $200 million annually, representing about 10% of total healthcare spending.

What percentage of Ethiopia's population is at risk of malaria?

Roughly 70% of Ethiopia's population is at risk of malaria contraction.

How does malaria affect Ethiopia's education system?

Malaria causes children to miss school due to illness, lowering education rates and future opportunities.

How does malaria affect Ethiopia's economy?

Malaria reduces worker productivity, particularly in agriculture, leading to economic losses and food insecurity.

How many malaria cases were recorded in Ethiopia in 2019?

Ethiopia recorded 2.9 million cases of malaria in 2019.

Who is most vulnerable to malaria?

Children under 5, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and travelers from malaria-free regions are the most vulnerable.

What is the impact of poverty on malaria?

Poverty limits access to healthcare, increases exposure due to poor sanitation, and weakens immune systems from malnutrition.

How does urbanization increase malaria risk?

Unregulated development near water bodies exposes more people to mosquito breeding grounds.

What percentage of Ethiopia's healthcare budget is affected by malaria?

Malaria accounts for around 10% of Ethiopia's total healthcare outgoings.

How does malaria impact agriculture in Ethiopia?

Malaria affects agricultural productivity as workers are unable to farm due to illness, exacerbating food insecurity.

What psychological impacts does malaria have?

Malaria causes anxiety, grief, and stress for affected families and communities.

How does malaria impact death and mortality rates?

Malaria contributes to increased death rates, infant mortality rates, and maternal mortality rates in Ethiopia.

What physical barriers reduce malaria in parts of Ethiopia?

Arid climates and high elevations in some areas of Ethiopia limit mosquito survival, reducing malaria transmission.

What are some seasonal patterns of malaria in Ethiopia?

Malaria cases often rise after the rainy season due to standing water, which provides mosquito breeding grounds.

What methods are used to prevent malaria in Ethiopia?

Insecticides, mosquito nets, covering standing water, and removing unused irrigation channels are key methods.

What are the disadvantages of insecticides like DDT?

Insecticides can cause water pollution and enter the food chain, affecting ecosystems.

What caused a rapid increase in malaria cases in Ethiopia in 2003?

The 2003 malaria outbreak was worsened by inadequate preventative measures, prompting a UNICEF-led international response.

How did UNICEF help Ethiopia during the 2003 malaria outbreak?

• UNICEF led the international response, with financial aid coming from the UK, the US and the World Health Organisation 

• It funded drugs, supplies and other responses like training and investigations

• However, the funding was not enough to fully eradicate malaria and has since gone down after the economic crash of 2008

  • Inflation reached 64.2%

• Malaria is also becoming immune to some of the drugs 

• Malaria won’t be eradicated from Ethiopia without dealing with development issues and poverty.

What is the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative?

Launched in 2005, it aims to reduce malaria deaths and cases while working toward disease eradication.

Why is eradicating malaria in Ethiopia challenging?

Development issues, poverty, drug resistance, and poor healthcare infrastructure hinder malaria eradication efforts.

What are some solutions to malaria?

Mosquito nets, education, anti-malaria drugs, larvae-eating marine life, and removing standing water are effective solutions.

How does malaria drug resistance affect eradication?

Drug resistance in malaria strains and mosquitoes makes treatment less effective, complicating eradication.

What are the global implications of malaria?

Malaria has been eradicated in most developed countries, but climate change could expand its reach worldwide.

How can travelers prevent malaria?

Travelers can take anti-malaria drugs and use protective measures to reduce the risk of infection.

How does deforestation impact malaria spread?

Deforestation increases temperatures and creates standing water, providing ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed.

What is the role of education in combating malaria?

Education raises awareness about malaria prevention, reducing infection rates in at-risk areas.

How does malnutrition increase malaria risk?

Malnutrition weakens immune systems, making individuals more susceptible to malaria.

How do marine life additions to water bodies help control malaria?

Adding fish or other marine life to water bodies helps control mosquito larvae populations, reducing the spread of malaria.

What impact did the 2008 economic crash have on malaria funding?

Funding for malaria control dropped after the 2008 crash, slowing eradication efforts in Ethiopia.

How does stagnant water contribute to malaria?

Stagnant water in mining pits, irrigation channels, and rice paddies provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

What percent of homes own insectide-treated nets? (DDT)

56%

Malaria accounts for what percent of annual GDP loss?

1.3%

How much of household income of affected homes is spent on malaria?

25%