Karachi, The Indus Hospital and Health Network organized an awareness session on April 25th, 2024, to observe World Malaria Day. The event, hosted by the hospital’s Family Medicine Department, aimed to educate the public about the prevalence of malaria and the steps that can be taken to prevent and manage the disease.
According to The Indus Hospital, over 608,000 people died from malaria worldwide in 2022, with Pakistan alone reporting over 3.4 million suspected cases, of which 170,000 were confirmed in laboratories. Two of the most dangerous malaria-causing parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, are prevalent in Pakistan, posing a significant health risk.
During the session, Dr. Hiba Ashraf, Director of the Primary Care Program, provided a comprehensive overview of the global, national, and local situation regarding malaria. She discussed the challenges faced in controlling the disease and stressed the importance of proactive measures to combat its spread. Dr. Hiba also announced that Indus Hospital would offer free testing, consultations, and medication for malaria management. In 2023, over 30,000 patients with fever were screened at Indus Hospital, with approximately 3,000 diagnosed and treated for malaria.
Dr. Yumna Usman, a medical officer for the malaria clinic, led a detailed presentation, explaining the types of malaria commonly found in Pakistan, how the disease spreads, and the typical symptoms, which include fever, chills, rigors, and body aches. Dr. Yumna highlighted the importance of early detection and encouraged people to seek medical assistance at Indus Hospital, where free testing and consultation are available.
She also underscored the critical role of primaquine, a medication used to eradicate malaria, and discussed the limited availability of this essential drug. Dr. Yumna stressed the need to increase accessibility to primaquine as part of broader efforts to control malaria.
The session concluded with a discussion on preventive measures, emphasizing the use of mosquito bed nets, insect repellents, and other strategies to prevent mosquito bites. The event also called for greater community involvement in malaria control initiatives.
With a call to action for individuals and communities to remain vigilant against malaria, the awareness session concluded with the message to “Accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.”