Lifelines

The End Game

How can health workers rid the world of malaria, a disease that kills a child every minute?

The number of malaria deaths worldwide peaked in 2004, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths worldwide a ccording to the WHO. 

But the efforts of health workers, NGOs and governments around the world have turned that number around. The WHO reported 800 000 deaths worldwide in 2010 and approximately 627 000 malaria deaths in 2012.

I am fortunate that I'm still young enough, God willing, I want to be there when malaria is eliminated. I want to be a part of that.

by Health hero Fredros Okumu

However, Africa continues to bear the brunt of the disease, with 80 percent of deaths occuring on the continent.

In Tanzania, research scientist Fredros Okumu is determined to bring an end to the disease that has a long and devastating effect on his community. 

Fredros works at the Ifakara Health Institute, Africa’s centre of research into malaria which is engaged in innovative study and experiment, yielding significant interventions.

Prevention, control and perhaps a vaccine against the parasite that causes the disease are all part of the mission and trials are underway which, should they prove positive, could be a huge health breakthrough.

It is a race between science and a rapidly evolving mosquito , with human effort at its heart.

Lifelines: The Quest for Global Health  profiles the extraordinary work of global health workers in their quest to rid the world of the deadly neglected diseases and conditions that keep millions of people in poverty.

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Lifelines: The Quest for Global Health   can be seen each week at the following times GMT: Thursday: 2000; Friday: 1200; Saturday: 0100; Sunday: 0600; Monday: 2000; Tuesday: 1200; Wednesday 0100