Health Essentials
Achieving a zero-malaria society through innovation
Malaria for centuries has been so common in our part of the world that people tend to associate any form of fever or “bitter taste in mouth” or even general feeling of not being well with malaria. Everyone seems to be an authority on diagnosing and treating malaria and the result is quite often not malaria at all that the person may be suffering from. Who can blame the numerous “malaria consultants”? The disease has caused so much menace in Ghana that it qualified as one of the six childhood killer diseases. Malaria is caused by a parasite of the genus plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans through mosquito (female anopheles) bites.
According to the World Health Organisation, Ghana’s malaria interventions over the years have yielded some positive impact; fewer people keep dying from malaria. 308 deaths were recorded in 2020 compared with 1,264 in 2016. Malaria related deaths also recorded eight people dying from malaria each day in 2016 whilst only one person died from malaria every day in 2020. These figures should make us proud of how far we have come but that shouldn’t make us complacent. This is because, people are still dying from malaria despite the measures put in place to eradicate it.
This year, the World Health Organisation is calling for investments and innovation that bring new vector control approaches, diagnostics, antimalarial medicines and other tools to speed the pace of progress against malaria. Hence the theme “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.”
It is heart-warming to note that a vaccine for malaria is now available and is being tried on a pilot basis in many countries including Ghana, but more has to be done. “Boosting investments in the development and deployment of a new generation of malaria tools is key to achieving the 2030 global malaria targets. Future progress in the fight against malaria will likely be shaped by technological advances and innovation in new tools, such as new vector control approaches, improved diagnostics and more effective antimalarial medicines.”
Prevention of Malaria
- Vector control is crucial – prevent the mosquito from biting.
- Dress appropriately to cover body during peak times of mosquito bites – that is from dusk to dawn.
- Clear pools of water etc.
- Sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN)
- Indoor spraying with residual insecticides etc
- Certain category of people may require antimalarial prophylaxis (low dose antimalarial medicines to prevent malaria)
- It is recommended that pregnant women in endemic areas after the first three (3) months of pregnancy should be given scheduled (intermittent) preventive treatment.
People at a higher risk
About half of the world’s population is at risk but the following are at a higher risk:
- Young children in malaria endemic areas because they have not yet developed protective immunity
- Pregnant women – may lead to miscarriage and even maternal death
- People with HIV/AIDS
- Travellers from non-endemic areas because they lack immunity.
- Immigrants from endemic areas and their children living in non-endemic areas who visit their home countries. They are at risk because of waning or absent immunity.
Remember to see the doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- General feeling of discomfort
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle or joint pain
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid heart rate
- Cough
There is a growing trend of the sale of herbal malaria medication at every corner of the country. Remember to test for malaria before using these medications and also remember to purchase your herbal medication from trusted sources. For the sake of your kidney and liver health, follow the instructions on given any medication you would take to cure malaria.
Remember that Malaria is curable and preventable. Together we can work to have a zero-malaria country.
Refrences:
- www.healthessentialsgh.com
- ww.mayoclinic.org
- www.who.int
Written by:
Augustina Otema Amarh and Maureen Masopeh
Content Creators
Health Essentials Limited
A good relationship with your boss is critical for job success and career development. Supervisors have a great influence on your stress level, your team and company culture, and ultimately, whether you succeed or fail in a role.
They are also your best resource for support, problem-solving, and personal development. Building a strong relationship with them can be transformative for your work experience and professional growth, but navigating this connection can be complex.
Here are some key values and characteristics that will help you along the way.
- Be authentic
It is important to be yourself when building any new relationship. Do not be over-the-top trying to impress or kiss up to a manager. Be authentic and try to build a genuine connection with them instead. This will be incredibly helpful when it comes to dealing with personal issues, having difficult conversations, and building trust.
- Be empathetic and respectful
Bosses are human beings with their own professional pressures and personal lives, so it is important to maintain empathy toward them. Strive to get to know them on a personal level; you do not need to be best friends, but knowing the basics, like their family and hobbies, can be meaningful.
Also, help your supervisor look good. Every leader wants a high-performing and successful team. By developing trust, understanding, and excellent communication, you can help your boss achieve their goals.
- Build trust and add value
Showing initiative will win you big points with almost any boss. Whether setting up regular one-on-ones, volunteering for new projects, or offering help, the benefits of this dedication are twofold.
Proactivity makes leaders feel supported-like you are looking out for them. It also provides opportunities for your individual growth.
Whenever possible, add value beyond the limitations of your job description. Whether you have a special interest or extra capacity, find ways to support your team and relieve pressure. – Source:careers.vikingservice.com
..To be continued
This week I bumped into Deborah, one of my avid readers and I promised her I will be writing this weekend. So Deborah, this is for your reading pleasure and to pick some golden nuggets for the future.
The quest to find the best way to make one’s golden years, happy, exciting, healthy and a time most people look forward to continues unabated. One factor that keeps popping up is the need to grow friendships with people more than 20 years younger than yourself.
Do not take this for granted. It is a form of “social security” since these close friends who are much younger than you will step in to support you in more ways than you can ever imagine.
Some conditions may make life challenging for older adults but knowing these Geriatric Giants helps us to take the necessary steps to reduce our risk.
“Geriatric Giants” refers to a group of chronic health conditions that are common in the elderly, typically 65-year-olds and older.
These conditions quite often co-occur and can impact on the independence, dignity and overall wellbeing and quality of life of an elderly person.
These Geriatric Giants include:
- Impaired Intellect/ Memory (e.g. Dementia)
- one of the major battles we need to deal with is challenges with memory
- Exercise, adopt the Mind Diet, build a great social network and enjoy time outdoors
- Keep reading and solving puzzles for as long as possible
- Instability – leading to much feared falls
- A good reason to indulge in Balance Training and Core Strengthening exercises from today
- Ensure your home is safe; avoid clutter such as cables crisscrossing floors, toys etc. These are all trip hazards and should be avoided
- Many healthy, happy and fun-loving older adults have died soon after a fall with its attendant complications.
- Do whatever it takes to avoid falling
- Immobility (opening the doors to pressure sores, joint stiffness)
- Even when you are unable to move about on your own it is important to get support to change positions as often as possible or get an appropriate mattress or bed that prevents prolonged pressure over any single point.
- Make sure you passively or actively move joints daily.
- Incontinence (urine, faeces or both)
- This is one of the reasons older adults prefer to stay at home and avoid going out to meet friends etc.
- Iatrogenic Disorders – adverse effect of medication
- Quite often most older adults are on several medications and some side effects such as drowsiness may seem to cause more unhappiness and may even lead to falls.
- Inappetite – this may result in poor nutrition
- This may also be linked to loss of teeth thus making chewing very difficult or limited.
- The loss of smell and taste may also reduce the amount of food one may willingly eat.
The power to reduce the impact of the Geriatric Giants starts now and should be a lifetime commitment. It is never too early to start making the appropriate lifestyle modifications, nor is it too late to reduce the impact of the giants on one’s life.
Other conditions that significantly impact on the lives especially of the elderly are:
- Sleep Disorders
- Good sleep has the power to give us energy, improve our thought pattern and even helps us to make good choices.
- Good sleep sets the tone for a healthy life
- Constipation
- This is a challenge that confronts quite a number of older adults.
- Movement, fibre and lots of water go a long way to reduce the stress that frequent constipation generates.
- Fraility
- Muscle loss is real and as we age, we lose a significant percentage of our muscle plus our bones also become brittle.
- Make sure strength training is part of your exercise schedule
- Polypharmacy
- Another headache that needs to be confronted head-on
- Everyone especially older adults need a good primary care physician or a general practitioner who can coordinate all medicines from the different Specialists who may be attending to an elderly person. This ensures that unnecessary medicines are dropped
The goal of care at all times is to optimise the quality of life. As family, professional caregivers and friends we should always show respect so that the dignity of the elderly is preserved at all times. For those of us who are not yet in the age group with such challenges, we need to start the conversation about the type of care we will prefer and take steps to stay healthy and independent for as long as possible. The goal should be a long Healthspan and not just a long Lifespan.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Esse
