Despite concerns…
THE present comparative reduction in the number of malaria cases in Guyana is less than it was compared to 2008/2007 and 2007/2006.

But there has been an increase in the parasite type fatal malaria which coincides with the availability of the treatment drugs facilitated by the Private Sector, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has reported.

He said, Saturday, it is the most recent report on the incidence of malaria in this country.

Ramsammy told a media briefing that, to date, there has been 6,700 recorded patients for the year, with a higher number of patients infected by the more dangerous plasmodium falciparum (PF) strain.

While that category can kill, the others are much less likely to prove fatal, he indicated.

He explained that some of the available drugs are not the best and the problem is because persons choose them and shy away from having tests done at regional health facilities and treating themselves wrongly.

Ramsammy acknowledged that the Ministry is having a tough time keeping the malaria situation under control.

He said, last year, of all the reported cases, PF accounted for 40 per cent but, this year, so far, it claimed 51 per cent of the 6,700 instances.

Ramsammy said, contributing to the Ministry’s difficulties, is the rise in economic activity, primarily mining, in Regions One (Barima/Waini), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

Backdams
According to him, much more is happening in what is called the backdams, areas difficult for the health workers to access and the operations conducted there create conditions to facilitate breeding of mosquitoes.

However, the less occurrences of the sickness is a remarkable achievement in the face of the creation of new breeding grounds, he said.

Ramsammy said his ministry is making all efforts to keep the malaria situation in check and, if possible, attain the 2012 target of fewer that 8,000 cases in 2010.

He said some strategies that the Health Ministry is exploring include residual spraying with certain effective insecticides and distribution of bed nets, although the former will only be useful in areas where people live permanently and not in mining camps.

Ramsammy said, up to now, 60,000 long lasting, insecticide treated bed nets have been distributed in the regions where they are needed, to prevent malaria transmission by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transfers occur.

He announced that the Ministry is in the process of procuring 50,000 more nets for disbursement in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

Ramsammy said another cause for unease at the Ministry is border health, with the opening of the Takutu Bridge, which will see more persons from Brazil travelling to Guyana.

He said the incidence of a resistant strain of malaria causing a genetic mix with that already here is a worry.

“Anywhere you open borders there are going to be health concerns,” Ramsammy admitted.

He said, though, that Brazil has been a good partner in health and the two countries have relevant measures in place.