Taking the Battle Against Malaria to Its Source – the Mosquito
Despite significant declines in recent years, malaria still represents a serious public health problem in Yemen – especially against the backdrop of a war that has been raging since 2014, the country’s associated economic collapse, and the healthcare system’s limited capacity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although efforts had been focused strictly on containing and controlling the spread, thanks to the World Health Organization (WHO) – and USD10.5 million in funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) – epidemiological activities have been expanded to control the disease vector, namely anopheles mosquitoes. This has taken the form of residual insecticide fogging and distributing nets treated with insecticide to 392,000 Yemenis across all governorates.According to Dr. Abdullah Awad Ali Bahendi, a father of six, who is also the Director of the Health and Population Office in Hajar District, Hadhramout Governorate, and Director of the Hospital for the Deceased Shazly Bin Hajar:
Rounding out their efforts, over 507 healthcare centers have been able to distribute free anti-malaria tablets and have benefitted from advanced laboratory equipment. In tandem, medical staff throughout the country have been trained to keep updated on the latest research, protocols, and policies coming out of the WHO to respond efficiently and effectively to suspected cases.
To date, 350 medical volunteers have been trained on how to conduct in-home assessments, run rapid diagnostic tests, and administer medication, and an additional 150 will be trained. With respect to laboratory technicians, the program is targeting 21 representatives for individualized instruction on diagnostic testing, who will then train their peers and reach more people in need. The program’s broader mandate is to scale up educational sessions for staff from Ethiopia to Djibouti.
Fifty-year-old Haidan Saeed Nasser Bagrawan, one of the participants in the training session, works in the Entomological Investigation Department of the Malaria Hub in Hadhramout Governorate, Al-Mahra, Shabwa.
In his own words: “I learned how to classify anopheles – mosquitoes that have been infected with malaria – and even conducted field visits to places that were known breeding grounds. We collected larvae, raised them to maturity, and then examined them to confirm cases. I also learned how to diagnose and treat mild cases with tablets, and more advanced cases with injections. Taking a public health approach, I sprayed breeding grounds, was exposed to the best practices for following up on infected cases, and have raised awareness and educated communities on preventing the spread.”
Initially, the project was expected to run from September 2020 to 2021, but has since been expanded to March of 2022 in response to the growing and urgent need to continue building the healthcare infrastructure and the system’s capacity to respond to outbreaks. Since its inception, the project has benefitted 3,885,000 Yemenis directly and another 3,778,000 indirectly.
Story and Photos: WHO-Yemen