Health Days 2014

World Malaria Day
Introduction:
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.
 
If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.
The world celebrates the World Malaria Day on April 25th of each year in recognition of efforts exerted on the global arena to combat malaria.
 
Epidemiological Status of Malaria:
Locally:
In 2012, some 3,406 positive cases of malaria were recorded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 
Internationally:
About 3.3 billion people (almost half of the world's population) are prone to the risk of malaria. In 2010, about 216 million people were affected by the disease, claiming the lives of 655,000 people. The intensified preventive procedures caused the mortality rates to decrease by more than 25% globally since 2000.
 
Internationally Approved Date: 25/4/2014

Locally Approved Date: 25/6/1435H
 
Theme:
          Invest in the future. Defeat malaria

Logo:
malaria.jpg

Targeted Group:
  • Malaria patients.
  • Patient families and contacts.
  • Health decision-makers.
  • Medical staff, health associations and societies.
  • The public.
 
The Saudi Strategy for Malaria Combat places emphasis on the following pivots:
  1. Focal spraying: thereby combating larvae in breeding sites inside the Kingdom, especially in infection transmission places, and places of high epidemiology.
  2. Spraying houses with a long-lasting insecticide, especially in places where malaria is likely to prevail.
  3. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is the process of spraying the inside of dwellings with an insecticide to kill mosquitoes that spread malaria, especially in infection transmission places, and places of high epidemiology.
  4. Using mechanical techniques for combating malaria in the breeding sites of mosquitoes.
  5. Distributing mosquito-nets sprayed with the insecticide on the vulnerable people.
  6. Intensifying health awareness programs.
Related Links:

 

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Last Update : 05 May 2014 03:29 PM
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