To many, conflict seems an incurable disease. Malaria is not. Merlin-trained health workers are on the frontline, providing health care for those affected by war and rolling back the avoidable deaths caused by malaria.
On World Malaria Day, 25 April, Merlin is paying tribute to these health workers who are fighting this disease, which shockingly still kills over 800,000 men, women and children every year.
Many eventualities of war are fatal for the innocent people caught up in it. A gunshot wound or similar battlefield maiming is a common occurrence - as is a simple bite from the tiny anopheles mosquito.
More people die from illnesses such as malaria in countries affected by conflict than the combatants fighting.
Health workers against all odds
Merlin is committed to stopping malaria in crisis countries, and is stressing the need for on-going support for health workers who are working in the most dangerous conditions imaginable, saving lives and preventing so many unnecessary deaths around the world.
In October 2009, malaria tore its way across the volatile and conflict-ravaged FATA region in Pakistan, threatening the lives of over 9,000 people in the area. 700 Merlin-trained health workers acted quickly to stop the potentially deadly malaria outbreak.
By the end of December, out of 9,000 cases, zero fatalities were reported.
Health workers played a key role in all stages of controlling the outbreak, providing rapid diagnosis for malaria, and running outreach centres where those with the disease received fast and effective treatment.
Working in areas where threats from insurgency, kidnapping and terror attacks are common, they face unbelievable danger every day. Just last week, one of our health workers and his family were caught up in a gun battle which left his wife critically injured.
Health workers strengthening the health system
A well functioning health system is critical to delivering basic health care to a population and addressing diseases such as malaria. Merlin’s programmes not only respond to acute health situations but also provide long term support to build the capacity of the health system in the countries in which it works.
Strengthening a country’s health system ensures skilled health workers are able to quickly plan for, and respond to future health shocks, and provide lasting medical support for those who urgently need it.
Caught up in conflict
Malaria thrives in conflict-affected countries. Mass displacement is a particularly dangerous consequence of war. Worldwide, 26 million people were driven from their homes in 2008, leaving fleeing families incredibly vulnerable to deadly but entirely preventable illnesses such as malaria.
Merlin malaria expert Dr Fayaz Ahmad explains that:
“Those displaced are often confined to over-crowded areas with limited access to health services - conditions which ignite epidemics. The relationship between population displacement and potentially severe disease outbreaks is well documented and warrants vigilance and immediate response”.
As a result, 3.3 billion people worldwide are still at risk from this curable disease, with 30 per cent of malaria deaths in Africa occurring in the wake of war, local violence or natural disasters.
Raise a hand for a health worker and help roll back the unnecessary deaths caused by the disease.
By doing so you’ll support those incredible men and women who risk everything to ensure others have access to the health care they deserve.