31st August 2009

Sammoric Joins the Global Fight Against Malaria

Some medical experts believe that Malaria is responsible for more deaths across history than all wars and diseases combined. Malaria has been brought under control and even eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe and Americas.

In the recent past, Malaria was a major problem in the South-Eastern United States, infecting millions of people throughout the 1930s. With a concerted national control effort, Malaria was eradicated from the U.S by 1951.

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Infections worldwide now number around 350 to 500 million cases a year, 90 percent of which occur in Africa with over a million fatalities as a result annually.

Great stride has been made around the world by different organizations towards eradicating this vicious disease. Private organizations like "Malaria No More", through their programs have helped in saving millions of lives through Communication, Resource Mobilization and Investments. While companies like "Sumitomo Chemical Corp." of Japan have contributed through innovations and investments by developing highly-effective long-lasting insecticide-treated Malaria bed nets.

Yet in Africa, with very efficient Mosquito vectors, increasing drug resistance and struggling health systems, Malaria infections have actually increased over the last three decades. Malaria is devastating because it is transmitted all year round. A child dies every 30 seconds from Malaria, so every second counts.

Current prevention techniques have not proven to be sufficient.

Sources: World Health Organization, UNICEF, Global Malaria Action Plan, Malaria No More, Roll Back Malaria, Sumitomo Chemical-Olyset Nets, Nothing But Nets, Vestergaard Frandsen, Military Infections Diseases Research Program.