Guangdong expertise helps fight malaria in Comoros

2019-Oct-24       Source: Newsgd.com

Since 2006, over 200 researchers from Guangdong have visited Comoros to promote artemisinin combination therapy.

 

A local medical staff member trained by a Chinese team distributes anti-malarial drugs to local villagers in Nzaoudze Village, Grande Comore, the largest island in the Comoros nation. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]

Malaria, together with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, are three major global public health threats that cause substantial human suffering and also impact negatively on economies and societies in which they are prevalent.

According to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2018, there were an estimated 219 million malaria cases and 435,000 related deaths in 2017, with the WHO African Region accounting for 93% of all malaria deaths that year.

The population of the Union of Comoros, the Islands of the Moon, had suffered from malaria for years. Local people didn’t name their children until they were five, because so many died of malaria before that.

Since 2006, over 200 researchers from Guangdong have visited Comoros to promote artemisinin combination therapy. In 2014, there were no malaria related deaths on all three islands of Comoros, morbidity was reduced by 98%, and no primary cases were reported on both Mohéli and Anjouan. The people of Comoros affectionately call the researchers ‘The Exorcists’.

Script: Huang Jinhui, Wang Cong, Wu Ke, Wang Yifan

Photo: Zhang Youqiong

Editors: Simon Haywood, Monica Liu

Planning: Yao Yanyong, Wang Xiyong, Lin Yaming, Qin Wengang, Cao Si, Wing Zhang


Comoros is known as the Islands of the Moon. Many inhabitants suffered from malaria in the past. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

A poster is hung on a tree , advertising the friendship between China and Comoros, in Hamahamet District, Grande Comore. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

A girl being held by her father waits for the drugs at a healthcare station in Oichili District. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


Guangdong expert Song Jianping (R2) inspects the distribution of drugs with other team members at a healthcare station in Oichili District. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

A woman takes the pills she receives from a local medical staff member trained by a Chinese team, in Mutsamudo Village. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


Two local members of the medical team visit a family in Hantsindzi Village, Grande Comore. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A local woman shows the Chinese-developed drug called Artequick which she is going to take, in Nzaoudze Village, Grande Comore. Artequick is a new artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) that combines artemisinin, piperaquine and a small dose of primaquine. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A little girl shows the Artequick pills that she is gong to take. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A man takes the pills in Nzaoudze Village, Grande Comore. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A medical staff member grinds half a pill for a baby. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

Guangdong medical team and local people pose for a group photo. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

Two Chinese experts train local technicians to inspect blood samples at Comoros’ national anti-malaria center. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A local medical worker inspects blood samples at Comoros’ national anti-malaria center. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


Blood work being inspected at Comoros’ national anti-malaria center. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


A bustling market in Grande Comore at dusk. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


Comoran people play chess on the beach at dusk. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


Comoran children play football on a simple court in Mitsamiouli District. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

Children have a good time in the sea in Mitsamiouli District. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


 

A man shows off a big fish at a fishing port market in Moroni, the capital of the Comoros. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]


The beautiful sunset glow in Grande Comore. [Photo: Zhang Youqiong]

Editor: Monica Liu

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