Everyone is aware of the annoyance mosquitoes create however, what is important is the drastic change in a person’s health a simple mosquito bite can cause. Guyana is well known for its vast forests where many males engage in mining and logging, and while these activities contribute to the well-being of many Guyanese and development of the economy, malaria poses a challenge.Over the years malaria has become a major public health problem in many countries, and in Guyana, Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 are the areas where the disease is prevalent.In the 1940s and 1950s more than one-third of the Guyanese patients in hospitals and almost 20 percent of all deaths were due to malaria. The renowned malaria scientist, George Giglioli, used DDT to stop malaria on the coast of Guyana, where almost 90 percent of the population lives, and as a result of that intervention, now, over 60 years later, malaria has not returned to the coast.The average number of malaria cases in Guyana annually between 1991 and 1998 was approximately 48,805, and in response to that government’s efforts in 1999 and 2000 were directed at reducing the numbers.Malaria typesMalaria is a disease caused by the presence of very small parasites in the blood. It is spread by the ‘anopheles’ mosquito however, the disease is both preventable and treatable.There are three different types of malaria in Guyana: plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium vivax,NHL Jerseys From China, and plasmodium malariae. Over 50 percent of the malaria cases in Guyana are of the most serious form – plasmodium falciparum. There are also cases of persons having a ‘mixed malaria infection’, a combination of the three types.Symptoms/treatmentMalaria symptoms occur at least seven to nine days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and include symptoms such as fever,Cheap NFL Jerseys, chills, sweats,NFL Jerseys China, headache,Cheap NBA Jerseys China, body aches, nausea and vomiting and fatigue. Malaria may also cause anemia and jaundice. Importantly, the plasmodium falciparum infection if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, coma and even death.This disease can recur after treatment for three reasons, and is as a result of when parasites are not cleared by treatment,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, where re-infection indicates complete clearance with new infection established from a separate infective mosquito bite; however both can occur with any malaria parasite species.With regards to available treatment, the Health Ministry is working towards removing substandard malaria drugs from the market, principally in hinterland areas. The Ministry recognises there is a need for malaria treatment in the hinterland, and that there is a certain degree of ignorance and people sometimes are fooled by buying unauthorised drugs.Drugs such as Quartem are authorised and certified by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Guyana has an abundance of such drugs, hence persons are advised against purchasing inferior drugs.It is important to note that malaria is preventable through the use of medications, mosquito eradication and the prevention of bites.Globally, while many countries have eradicated malaria, they are seeing an increasing number of imported malaria cases owing to extensive travel and migration.?Social responsibilityCitizens’ activities also play a role in preventing the spread of malaria, and in this regard, community participation and?health education?strategies promoting awareness of malaria and the importance of control measures have been successfully used to reduce the incidence of malaria in some areas of the developing world.Since Guyana signed onto the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), overall records indicate steady progress towards this sixth MDG of combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Reports show positive news for malaria control, with prevalence rates confirming that the country has succeeded in meeting the target of reducing the incidence of the disease.Decline in malaria casesThe prevalence of malaria has decreased from 5,084 per 100,000 persons in 2005 to 1,541 per 100,000 persons in 2008. This improvement can be attributed to successes in prevention efforts, as well as in the detection and treatment of contracted cases.? The priorities include improving compliance with treatment, and overcoming the logistical difficulties associated with detection, treatment and monitoring of interventions.Insecticide-Treated?Mosquito Nets?(ITNs) and?Indoor Residual Spraying?(IRS) have been shown to be highly effective vector control interventions in preventing malaria morbidity and mortality among children in malaria-endemic settings.In 2010, the Ministry of Health introduced a new altern