Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jharkhand (Agenzia Fides) - Today, April 25, World Malaria Day is celebrated. According to the Report 2011 of the World Health Organization on Malaria, in 2010 216 million cases worldwide were registered, with about 655 000 deaths, mostly children living in Africa, where every minute a child dies due to this pandemic, which is responsible for 22% of infant deaths. Until three years ago, in some municipalities of the Indian state of Jharkhand, the rate of mortality caused by malaria was very high and the disease is endemic in the area, hitting most of the population. Many of the inhabitants remained chronically disabled by the continuous attacks of malaria, which, like a vicious circle, damaged the already fragile economies of the country. The sick were forced to spend most of their money for medical care and were compromised from being able to carry out any kind of work, thus becoming a "burden" for families and communities.
Things have started to improve with the arrival in the area of Dumka Social and Educational Society (DSES), local partner of the Catholic organization Spanish Manos Unidas, which has been operating several health centers since 1978, and carries out programs of prevention, care and campaigns of awareness on health, training of midwives and self-help groups. The DSES has started in 36 villages of Dumka, Pakur and Sahibganj a Malaria Control Program, which had already proved to be successful in other communities. This is a three-year project where over 15 thousand people have benefited, in particular, members of the Santal tribe and of the primitive Malt Paharias. In this period, the program has selected and trained leaders and health workers and, through lectures or presentations on the street, has highlighted the importance of early diagnosis through blood tests in the treatment of the disease. The organization is also involved in campaigns for the awareness of the population and the formation of self-help groups of women. Three years after the start of this program there has been a reduction of malaria cases and mortality rate in the 36 selected villages. An example is Kunjbona, where last year the program succeeded in limiting an outbreak of malaria in a short period of time. Kunjbona area is very mountainous and difficult to reach, which is why the people, very poor, have difficulties to take advantage of basic services such as health care. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2012)
