3.a. Communicable diseases have causes and impacts with mitigation and response strategies which have varying levels of success Flashcards
How much of Ethiopia’s land area is malaria endemic
75%-2/3 of the population live in these areas
Where are the areas of highest risk to malaria
The western lowlands
When do transmission levels peak
After the rainy season between June and November. In the midlands, transmission is seasonal, with occasional epidemics
Which areas are malaria free
The central highlands
Where does malaria thrive (environmental cause)
- In warm, humid climates and where stagnant surface water provides ideal breeding habitats for mosquitoes
- In Ethiopia these habitats are strongly influenced by altitude
Where is malaria prevalent in the lowlands and not in the highlands (environmental cause)
- In the western lowlands the temperature and humidity are high throughout the year
- In the highlands there is average low temperature-slow development of mosquitoes
What human factors have encouraged the spread of the disease
Population movements, urbanisation, irrigation schemes and the misuse of malarial drugs
What happens every year at harvest and how does this affect the spread of malaria in Ethiopia
- Irrigation projects in the Awash Valley and in Gambella province, with the construction of canals, micro-dams and ponds
- Urbanisation has a similar effect: flooded excavations, and garbage dumps
Why is misuse of malarial drugs encouraging the spread
The malarial parasites are becoming increasingly drug-resistant
Who is hardest hit from the disease
The poor, often living in crudely built dwellings that offer few barriers to mosquitoes
How many episodes of malaria a year do Ethiopians suffer from
5 million which kills around 70,000 people
What debilitating effects does malaria have
Causes absenteeism from work, slowing economic growth and reinforcing the cycle of poverty
What is the cost to health services in Ethiopia
Malaria absorbs 40% of national health expenditure and accounts for 10% of hospital admissions and 12% of health clinic visit
How does malaria impact on food security and the environment
The western lowlands are resource-rich, with considerable potential to raise food production. But malaria holds back development.
This problem has a knockback effect on the highlands. As this area is malaria-free it supports unusually high population densities. As a result, its farming resources have been overexploited, resulting in widespread land degradation
What are direct actions set out by the Ethiopian government to mitigate malaria
Direct action involves measures to eradicate mosquitoes, including spraying of dwellings with insecticides and managing the environment to destroy breeding sites for mosquitoes
