Malaria Fortnights
Malaria is an extremely serious endemic that affects much of the African continent. In Senegal, 100% of the population is at risk of the disease. Children under 5 years of age and pregnant women account for the most vulnerable groups to retract the malaria virus. For some technical terms: Plasmodium falciparum is the major malaria parasite species, accounting for more than 90% of all infections. The main vector species are Anopheles gambiae sensu strictu, An. arabiensis, An. funestus, and An. melas. The species distribution depends on rainfall and the presence of permanent sources of water. A puddle or even a toilet can be a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Luckily, Senegal recognizes the problem and has taken steps to help prevent malaria. For example, during the high malaria transmission period, a community health worker performs weekly sweeps and visits every household in the village, actively looking for suspected cases and providing rapid diagnostic tests (...