Guyana: Increase in malaria; failure to use nets

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who has been visiting sites in the hinterland to look at hot spots for malaria, has pointed to an increase in malaria cases so much so that “we are on the verge of reversing all the gains we have made over the last five years.”For the first time since 2005, the number of malaria cases for the January period has increased in Guyana by about 15 per cent. In spite of increased efforts by the health sector, malaria cases have increased every epidemiological week since last October.Dr Ramsammy, in a press release noted that the increased mining activities have led to mining operations in many hard-to-reach places for health workers.“This makes it incumbent for operators of these activities to work closely with the Ministry of Health and with Regional Health Authorities to ensure we do not lose the battle against malaria,” he stated.The Minister is disappointed that after the Ministry has distributed thousands of impregnated mosquito nets, most people in the mining camps do not use nets to sleep.The most troublesome issue is finding that the use of mono-therapy with medication not approved by the Ministry of Health is still evident. In addition, the team has found that many persons diagnosed with malaria and who have been given approved medicines, are not completing their treatment.The failure to use the complete course is causing malaria to return to that person. Thus, many of the cases being recorded as new ones are in fact the same cases because there was a failure to cure.“We urge persons to complete their course of treatment because it is the only way to cure the body of malaria. Incomplete treatment will lead to a return of malaria,” Dr Ramsammy stated.Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who has been visiting sites in the hinterland to look at hot spots for malaria, has pointed to an increase in malaria cases so much so that “we are on the verge of reversing all the gains we have made over the last five years.”For the first time since 2005, the number of malaria cases for the January period has increased in Guyana by about 15 per cent. In spite of increased efforts by the health sector, malaria cases have increased every epidemiological week since last October.Dr Ramsammy, in a press release noted that the increased mining activities have led to mining operations in many hard-to-reach places for health workers.“This makes it incumbent for operators of these activities to work closely with the Ministry of Health and with Regional Health Authorities to ensure we do not lose the battle against malaria,” he stated.The Minister is disappointed that after the Ministry has distributed thousands of impregnated mosquito nets, most people in the mining camps do not use nets to sleep.The most troublesome issue is finding that the use of mono-therapy with medication not approved by the Ministry of Health is still evident. In addition, the team has found that many persons diagnosed with malaria and who have been given approved medicines, are not completing their treatment.The failure to use the complete course is causing malaria to return to that person. Thus, many of the cases being recorded as new ones are in fact the same cases because there was a failure to cure.“We urge persons to complete their course of treatment because it is the only way to cure the body of malaria. Incomplete treatment will lead to a return of malaria,” Dr Ramsammy stated.
http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2010/04/18/malaria-on-the-increase-%E2%80%93-dr-ramsammy/