In 2009, MSF treated 1,178,171 malaria patients across the world. Over 1,000,000 people continue to die each year from malaria, even though simple and effective tools exist which have been proven to dramatically reduce the burden of this disease. The trouble is the tools are not necessarily being used.
“The fact that quick, effective diagnosis and treatment is now possible makes the continuing tragedy of malaria in the developing world all the more unacceptable.” says Dr. Martin De Smet, malaria expert with MSF. “The necessary tools to fight malaria have been developed and now need to be used and implemented on a wider scale.”
MSF uses Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), where reliable microscopy is not available. These require just a single drop of blood from a patient’s finger tip to diagnose the disease within fifteen minutes. RDTs ensure that a correct diagnosis is made and have been shown by MSF to work everywhere, from busy hospitals to remote health outposts. Because of its simplicity, diagnosis by RDT can also be made by trained village malaria workers.
The medication MSF uses the most effective medicine to treat malaria. Called artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT), these pills have low toxicity, few side effects and act rapidly against the parasite. If a patient is diagnosed early, it takes just three consecutive days of taking ACTs for the patient to be cured.
MSF also distributes bed nets that have been treated with insecticide to people most at risk from malaria including pregnant women and children under five years old. MSF educates communities on how to correctly use and maintain their bed net to protect themselves from mosquitoes at night.
“Developed and developing countries need to be consistently committed to supporting the fight against malaria.” says Martin De Smet. “On the occasion of World Malaria Day 2010, MSF highlights the need for all parties to stick to their commitments to ensure the scale up and implementation of RDTs, ACTs and bed nets in countries where malaria is endemic.”