Malaria kills over a million people around the world each year. Children in Africa suffer the heaviest - they account for 75% of all global deaths from malaria. Every thirty seconds a child dies of the disease. Mothers are also at risk: in endemic areas, malaria is responsible directly or indirectly for 30% of maternal mortality.
Malaria: living with a killer
Every year, MSF treats over two million malaria patients around the world. In almost all our projects in tropical areas, we are faced with malaria, whether the programme focus be on HIV, basic health care or reproductive health.
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A silent, deadly killer preys on the people of Uganda
An extensive malaria prevention and treatment programme is in place in Uganda, but in Agoro camp the effects of this programme are not being felt.
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Burundi - Malaria slide show "It is early in the morning as mothers, children and other patients arrive at Muwhazi health center. As medical staff do their first check on the patients, children with a high fever are prioritised."
A severe malaria case in Burundi
"I was scared for my son. When we arrived at the hospital, he was very weak and he couldn't talk," explains the mother of a three and an half year old boy with severe malaria.
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Facts about malaria in Burundi
Malaria is the cause of 48% of deaths for children under five.
Pregnant women and their foetus are particularly vulnerable to
malaria, which is the most important cause of perinatal mortality,
low weight at birth (26%), and maternal anaemia (73%).
Severe malaria in pregnant women is responsible of a proportional
mortality rate of 58%.
Before 2001, there was no system to monitor drug efficacy and so
Chloroquine and fansidar (SP) were used as first line treatment.
In 2001, treatment failures with chloroquine were between 51% and
74%. Treatment failures with fansidar (SP) were between 9 and 49%.
In late-2000 to early 2001, a major epidemic with six million
case with high mortality.
Treatment success with ACT's (Artesunate/ Amodiaquine in Burundi) is 95%.
As of November 2003, ACT (Artesunate+ Amodiaquine) has become the
first line treatment. Quinine is the second line treatment as well as
being the first line treatment for children under six months and
pregnant women during their first trimester of pregnancy.
Chloroquine and fansidar are no longer available in Burundi.
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