WORLD Malaria Day 2023 was observed a few days ago (April 25) under the theme, “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) focused on the third “i” – implement – within the theme, along with the critical importance of reaching marginalised populations with the tools and strategies that are available today.

According to the WHO, World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to malaria prevention and control.

Instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007, WHO recommends prompt parasite-based diagnosis by microscopy or malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in all patients suspected of malaria before antimalarial treatment is administered.

And that’s the job of the only certified Malaria microscopist at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Daisia Thomas, who’s also the Senior Medical Laboratory Technician there.

After working at the hospital for some time, her love and passion for Malaria microscopy became greater with each passing day. This job entails sample collection, sample preparation, and using a microscope to diagnose the patient.

Malaria microscopy allows the detection of different malaria-causing parasites, their various parasite stages, including gametocytes, and the quantification of parasite density to monitor response to treatment.

“Malaria microscopy is the gold standard for malaria, and as a microscopist, I can make sure that patients are diagnosed in a timely way and receive accurate results so they can receive the appropriate treatment,” Thomas shared in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

While being the only microscopist can be challenging at times, Thomas said she enjoys her job because it can make a difference in patients’ lives. She hopes others will join the field of Malaria microscopy because there’s a need in the country. She called attention to the number of cases that come up when people travel to various interior locations.

Stressing on the need to get tested when symptoms appear, she said: “Malaria is a preventable and curable disease. However, it is a serious public health problem in many parts of the world and it can lead to death if left untreated.”

Malaria, she reminded, is caused by a parasite which infects a person’s red blood cells. It can transmit through the bite of a female mosquito and some of the best ways to protect against it is to use bed nets, light-coloured and long sleeve clothing, repellants, window screens, etc.

Meanwhile, according to WHO, the most common early symptoms of malaria are fever, headache and chills. Symptoms usually start within 10–15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. They may be mild for some people, especially for those who have had a malaria infection before. Because some malaria symptoms are not specific, getting tested early is important, the WHO states.

Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death. Infants, children under five years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk, the WHO said, adding that severe symptoms include: extreme tiredness and fatigue, impaired consciousness, multiple convulsions, difficulty breathing, dark or bloody urine, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) and abnormal bleeding.

“People with severe symptoms should get emergency care right away. Getting treatment early for mild malaria can stop the infection from becoming severe. Malaria infection during pregnancy can also cause premature delivery or delivery of a baby with low birth weight,” the WHO warned.