Introduction
The virus of malaria is one of the most common fatal health issues present in the poorest regions of Africa. Approximately 438,000 people from the black continent died because of their inability to confront the infection. The following paper will present a discussion and suggestion for integrated vector control, how its effectiveness can be increased, and how this method is likely to help people in an environmentally friendly fight against malaria.
Integrated Vector Control
It is a well-known fact that the primary reason why inhabitants of African countries get infected with malaria is the tremendous number of mosquitoes present in the continent’s territories. These insects transmit the disease among all local populations. Recently, much research has been made to identify environmentally friendly methods of vector control aimed at reducing the risk of being infected with malaria (WHO, 2018).
Basing on the most recent studies, it became evident that there are certain species of malarial mosquitoes that have to be exterminated to stop the disease transmission (WHO, 2018). Also, this will minimize both costs required for vector control management and the adverse impact on the local environment. To increase the effectiveness of the suggested actions, it is necessary to consider several factors that will be listed below:
- Accurate mapping of areas where dangerous mosquitoes are located. The implementation of this strategy will let people know what places have to be avoided and attacked to reduce the risk of malaria in Africa (Simon-Oke, Afolabi, Adekanmbi, & Oniya, 2016).
- Identification of the insects’ breeding zones. This knowledge will be helpful to prevent the existence of malarial mosquitoes that transmit the disease all over the continent. Moreover, the investments required to fight the infection will be used more appropriately and economically. Instead, other financial means can be used to help already infected patients. Effective allocation of finances is essentially important for poorer nations.
New methods of vector control require an almost ideal organization, along with well-determined plans, educated and professional technicians who will fight malaria, and innovative equipment that will allow people to reduce the number of deaths and infections in Africa (Mutero et al., 2015). Environmentally friendly methods of fighting malaria also include the following points:
- The implementation of the latest technology to trap the mosquitoes, instead of killing them in open areas will decrease the number of toxic substances in the air.
- The breeding of fish that eats malarial mosquitoes’ larvae will stop or at least lower the number of the mosquitoes born every year (Silberbush, Abramsky, & Tsurim, 2015).
- The implementation of chemical sprays that kill the mosquitoes’ larvae will also reduce the population of the insects in the black continent’s territories (Chanda et al., 2015).
It is necessary to mention that IVM (integrated vector control) is aimed at better decision-making practices regarding the fight against malaria. People involved in such industries as medicine, agriculture, and water provision must unite to make their work beneficial for organizations and people who confront malaria. As mentioned above, GIS (geographical information systems) are intended to increase people’s awareness of the disease’s epicenter, and hence, make the IVM more efficient for poorer nations that do not have many resources to prevent the infection’s transmission (Chaccour et al., 2015).
Conclusion
Malaria is one of the most pestilent diseases in Africa nowadays. Since local people do not have much money to address and prevent the given health issue, international organizations support them. Recent research reveals that both GIS and the implementation of innovative methods (sprays, fish, and trapping) in combination with IVM appear to be more environmentally friendly than old methods with the use of toxic gases.
References
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