World Malaria Day

Malaria is entirely preventable and curable. It is up to each one of us to make an effort to #EndMalaria. Part of that effort is to educate ourselves about the disease. After all, Knowledge is Power

Here are some interesting facts about malaria:

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2017, there were an estimated 4,35,000malaria deaths globally.
• In 2017, 5 countries accounted for nearly half of all malaria cases worldwide: Nigeria (25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), Mozambique (5%), India (4%) and Uganda (4%).
• Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2017, they accounted for 61% (266 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide.
• Malaria is transmitted through the female Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite between dusk and dawn.

How to protect yourself from malaria:

• Clean and remove accumulated water from flower tubs, abandoned buckets, tyres or broken bowls, etcfrom in and around your home and from your locality to avoid breeding of mosquitoes
• Use mosquito screens on windows and doors at home and in office to keep mosquitoes out
• Use mosquito repellent sprays, creams, lotions, patches of various kinds as per requirement and suitability
• Light-coloured and covered clothes help keep mosquitoes away more than dark coloured clothes
• Take special care at dusk and dawn; mosquitoes are more activeduring these times
• Use mosquito net while sleeping at night or even during the day, if needed
• Avoid areas or stay cautious when you’re visiting in areas, where there is high incidence of vector-borne diseases