FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	2018 World Malaria Day
	23 April 2018

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is supporting the global community in the commemoration of World Malaria Day on 25 April 2018. This year’s theme is “Ready to Beat Malaria” and it emphasizes the global efforts in malaria prevention and control.

 

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 5 million cases over 2015. The current pace is insufficient to achieve the 2020 milestones of the WHO that targets a 40% reduction in malaria case incidence and death rates.

 

The available drugs against malaria do not offer complete protection against the disease. The most important method of prevention is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by following these rules:

•	Wear protective clothing
•	Use insect repellents that contain diethyltoluamide (DEET). Repellents should be applied to all exposed skin as per instructions on the can.
•	Approved insecticides that can be sprayed on to clothing
•	Sleep under a treated mosquito net
•	Use mosquito-repelling vaporizers.

“The 2018 theme “Ready to beat malaria” instigates hope that this deadly disease would be beaten. In infected individuals malaria symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after the mosquito bite. The first symptoms are normally fever, headache and chills – almost like cold and flu symptoms -and it may be difficult to recognize it as malaria. To be safe, healthcare providers should suspect malaria in patients with unexplained fever who have returned from areas known as a risk for malaria as little as 7 days prior. ” says Ms Sizo Mchunu, SANC Registrar & CEO. 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on  Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za