Though many believe that malaria is no longer a threat, it continues to affect the inhabitants of many tropical regions. Its continued prevalence, however, is in large part due to the fact that its victims cannot afford or access the necessary diagnosis and treatments which can prevent and cure this disease. Its danger also comes from the fact that its targets are very young children and pregnant mothers.
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| Malaria is spread through the insect bites of infected mosquitoes. |
In places such as Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières trains local volunteers who are able to go where MSF members cannot. These are places cut off from Médecins Sans Frontières, whether due to distance or government prohibition. In Mali, Médecins Sans Frontières even collaborated with the local health authorities to create a system to combat malaria, consisting of free or reduced-cost treatment as well as the training of volunteers. Through these measures, Médecins Sans Frontières has seen a decrease in the fatality rates from infection (from .35 percent to .03 percent) as well as in the number of severe cases (8 percent to 1.7 percent).
Médecins Sans Frontières has devoted time to malaria because it is a disease which can be prevented if the right safeguards and care are taken.
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