Global Crisis War of Malaria

Abstract

As SARS-CoV-2 has come to the focal front of the infectious disease spectrum we have seemed to shift away from identifying the effectiveness of other infectious diseases like Malaria in other countries. This review editorial highlights, the ongoing crisis and the efforts being made from student led organizations to tackle the vector borne diseases head on. The student led group (Global Care Heroes Inc.) was organized by students who sought over bringing medical change in their undergraduate career. It brought together young engaging students from different fields with the hopes of finding novel therapeutic interventions for Malaria. These current achievements, coupled with a better coordinated global effort on multiple fronts will aid in the eradication of Malaria and other Vector Borne Diseases.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Vector Borne Diseases, Malaria, Novel Therapeutics

1. Introduction

Malaria in today's society has continued to have a everlasting effects on the lives of humans and society as a whole for thousands of years and remains one of the most serious infectious diseases. However, in developed first world countries we have seemed to forget the impact on 3rd world countries. The vector borne disease is caused by protozoan pathogens of the Plasmodium spp., Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The way in which Malaria is transmitted is the by the bite of the Plasmodium spp.-infected female mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus. Several new combination therapies have been in clinical development that have efficacy against drug-resistant parasites and the potential to be used in single-dose regimens to improve compliance [6]. How valid these novel therapeutics will be able to distribute in a 3rd world country are very unlikely.

1.1 Technological Misdiagnosis

It is also vital to know that since most low- and middle-income countries are lacking when it comes to several new parts of technology, they are not able to afford large-scale diagnostic tools. This affects malaria control efforts in where there are several overlapping symptoms from less deadly infections and as a result patients with a fever at the time may get tested for malaria and sent home and this becomes the crisis as these susceptible individuals are causing further community infections which then continues to be the significant source of illness and deaths not only in Kenya, the first medical trip of Global Care Heroes but globally. There are also laboratory-confirmed cases in Kenya of both asymptomatic malaria and COVID-19 infected individuals. This once increases the possibility that both asymptomatic patients can transmit the infection through their respective modes. In these areas of the tropical world such as Kenya where malaria is hyperendemic and transmission continues throughout the year, the population at risk can be superinfected multiple times every year. Even if these victims survive, the victims go through life changing cognitive deficit and impairment they are never the same again. From work done by global care heroes, the results seen were ineradicable poverty, illiteracy, compromised economic growth, a stunted development of civil society, and political instability.

1.1.1 Current Efforts/ Challenges of Malaria Elimination 

Malaria control largely depends on the mass distribution of long-lasting chemoprevention methods across communities and households. The issue arises is how can we get health staff and individuals to increase awareness when students are skeptical towards going for medical trips to learn and increase awareness, because of the amount of fees by current efforts by big companies. This is where Global Care Heroes has implemented preventive activities by producing a throughout different Universities all the world with students who will be able to impact these people in 3rd worlds countries lives by bringing supplies, raising awareness all while getting the experience of going on a medical trip. This mission while small will continue to crow and make sure malnutrition, poverty, social instability, and all other burden caused from diseases are slowly rolled out and in centuries to come eradicated. These measures will require a future arrangement with future medical stakeholders ex. WHO and partners to help us further expand our efforts.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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