Malaria is one of the leading causes of mortality rates in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Caused by Plasmodium Falciparum, the disease serves as one of the leading threats to human population across the continent. Theoretical concepts tend to front mosquitoes and hence the parasite it carries as the main reason behind the high impacts of Malaria. However, research indicates that the spread of the effects of malaria has majorly been caused other health factors, for instance, decline in immunity especially among the young ones in the society.
The parasite has led to a toll in the mortality rate across African opulations. This can be emphasized by the emergence of various human survival mechanisms. The spread and the effects of malaria can, therefore, be attributed to various factors, for instance, climate change, local ecology as well as the active control systems. In this paper, we highlight the effects of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. We make a special reference to the trends in the effects of malaria among the people in this part of Africa.
We also shall highlight the possible effects of poverty, healthcare services, population sizes, climate and ecology on he spread of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology To establish the aspects highlighted in the introduction, we examined five countries drawn from Sub-Saharan Africa. The nations included Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, and Nigeria. The main method of data collection was through the use of both primary and secondary sources in the form of research reports, published journals and books on malaria in these nations.
The process of data collection also involved the use of online sources to establish the impacts of malaria on the society with respect to age and environment. In addition, information was also obtained from the review of relevant literature touching on the aspect of malaria and its impacts on Sub-Saharan countries. Another portion of data was obtained through direct interviews and questionnaires issued to health experts in different parts of the countries mentioned above. The data was then collected and analyzed for consistency and validity.
From the gathered information, it was possible to deduce the trends in the impacts of malaria and the mitigation effects established by the various governments in a bid to obtain long lasting solutions to this pidemic. Results and Analysis From the process of data collections, it was possible to deduce various conclusions about the impacts of malaria with regard to the area covered by the research. For instance, the data indicated a mortality rate of about 40% among the people living in deplorable states with poor health facilities and low living standards.
The data also indicated a direct relationship between climate, local ecology and population sizes and the mortality rates caused by malaria. In regions with high rainfall, for instance, the tropical and mountainous regions in Kenya and Ethiopia, there was a notable increase in the rate of malaria- related deaths between 2000 and 2014. The results also indicate that the most affected areas are those that had been ineffectively reached in terms of the malaria control measures.
From the data, it is, however, notable that most nations in Sub- Saharan Africa have implemented malaria control units which has led to a reduction in the impacts of malaria by 50% in these nations. Discussion Over the past few years, there have been notable efforts by the United Nations in conjunction with other African organizations to control and eliminate malaria. These efforts have gone a long way in mitigating the impacts of malaria among nations in the Sub-Saharan part of Africa. The strategies have been implemented along various fault lines depending on the extent of the regional impacts.
From the data collection process, it was possible to establish some of the most notable factors leading to the spread and impacts of malaria. To begin with, we outline the aspect of availability of healthcare facilities. The study indicated a more pronounced rate of mortality caused by malaria in regions where the population lacked access to proper ealthcare facilities. The second notable cause was poor living standards and poverty hence the inability to afford proper healthcare services. In societies marred by poverty, the trends indicate a higher toll in malaria-related death.
The studies reveal that 70% of malaria-related deaths are recorded in slum areas and other interior societies characterized by low living standards. Poverty deprives the members of a society of the much-needed opportunity to access proper healthcare and control programs. The third eminent factor which could also be ttributed to the spread and impacts of malaria is the aspect of climate and local ecology. High rainfall areas are likely to be affected more due to the high number of mosquitoes whose breeding is attracted by the stagnant waters.
An increase in the population of mosquitoes results in an equal increase in the spread of Plasmodium which is the disease-causing parasite. At the same time, the local topology has a leading effect on the spread of the parasite. For instance, the regions characterized by flat terrains lead to water stagnation which in turn attracts the breeding of mosquitoes. As a counter measure, the African organizations in liaison with the United Nations have noted the specific areas in need of the necessary adjustments.
There have been increased efforts by the mitigating bodies to ensure availability of healthcare services especially to the societies located in the remote parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the bodies have continued to work in conjunction with the governments in a bid to ensure that the control strategies are spread to all parts of the Africa. These efforts can be emphasized by the increase in government funding of mobile ealthcare services and provision of control materials for instance mosquito nets and drugs.
Apart from the efforts to avail healthcare to each member of the society, perhaps the most effective control strategy has been the spread of awareness among the members if the society on the impacts of malaria. The continued exposure on the dangers of malaria has enhanced individual aggressiveness against these impacts. The members of the society have risen to personally fight the disease by being part of the control strategies, for instance, the use of nets and relevant protective measures.
Perhaps it is due to the impacts of these counter measures that we have since experienced a drop in the spread and impacts of malaria among Sub-Saharan African countries by a massive 50% Conclusion Malaria remains a leading threat to healthy living among the members of the society. From the studies above, it is evident that children are at higher risk of bearing the brunt of this epidemic. This is basically due to their relatively weaker immune systems when compared to the adults. However, the adults too are equally at risk due to the active presence of the parasite esponsible for malaria.
It is, therefore, the responsibility of each member of the society to join hands with the other government bodies in the fight against malaria. In some cases, people have been issued with nets which instead of mounting for protection against mosquitoes have been used for other irrelevant purposes. There is, therefore, a need in the development of a receptive attitude from the society which would, in turn, offer the necessary support to the malaria control bodies in their efforts to mitigate the effects of malaria.
