Spring is in the air in Southern Africa, and so are the malaria causing mosquitos…!
Malaria is a life-threatening disease primarily found in tropical countries. It is both preventable and curable. However, without prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, a case of uncomplicated malaria can progress to a severe form of the disease, which is often fatal without treatment and in addition can cause severe brain and kidney damage in survivors.
Malaria is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another; the disease is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat. There are over 400 different species of Anopheles mosquitoes and around 40, known as vector species, can transmit the disease.

This risk of infection is higher in some areas than others depending on multiple factors, including the type of local mosquitoes. It may also vary according to the season, the risk being highest during the rainy season in tropical countries.
Who is at risk of malaria?

Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. In 2022, an estimated 249 million people contracted malaria in 85 countries. That same year, the disease claimed approximately 608 000 lives.
Some people are more susceptible to developing severe malaria than others. Infants and children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS are at particular risk. Other vulnerable groups include people entering areas with intense malaria transmission who have not acquired partial immunity from long exposure to the disease, or who are not taking chemo preventive therapies, such as migrants, mobile populations, and travellers.
Malaria is a preventable disease.

1. Vector control interventions. Vector control is the main approach to prevent malaria and reduce transmission. Two forms of vector control are effective for people living in malaria-endemic countries: insecticide-treated nets, which prevent bites while people sleep and which kill mosquitoes as they try to feed, and indoor residual spraying, which is the application of an insecticide to surfaces where mosquitoes tend to rest, such as internal walls, eaves and ceilings of houses and other domestic structures. For travellers, the use of an insecticide-treated net is the most practical vector control intervention. WHO maintains a list vector control products that have been assessed for their safety, effectiveness, and quality.

2. Chemopreventive therapies and chemoprophylaxis. Although designed to treat patients already infected with malaria, some antimalarial medicines can also be used to prevent the disease. Current WHO-recommended malaria chemo preventive therapies for people living in endemic areas include intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy, perennial malaria chemoprevention, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, post-discharge malaria chemoprevention, and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria for school-aged children. Chemoprophylaxis drugs are also given to travellers before entering an area where malaria is endemic and can be highly effective when combined with insecticide-treated nets.

In 2021, WHO recommended the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) vaccine to prevent malaria among children living in regions with moderate-to-high P. falciparum malaria transmission. More than 2 million children were reached with at least one dose of the vaccine through the WHO-coordinated Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. A rigorous evaluation has shown a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a 13% drop in early childhood deaths in the areas where RTS,S has been administered compared with areas where the vaccine was not introduced. In October 2023, WHO recommended a second safe and effective malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M. The availability of 2 malaria vaccines is expected to increase supply and make broad-scale deployment across Africa possible.

Malaria vaccine is available in South Africa.
How can we help to prevent persons dying from malaria, which is very preventable?
Pediatric Care Africa fully follow the WHO and the South African ministry of health recommendations and regulations, in our fight to prevent people in remote villages and informal settlements in malaria pandemic areas from contracting malaria. In large areas of South Africa especially in more remote areas and informal settlements there are often zero Government assistance or intervention, to prevent people from getting and dying from malaria, with malaria also fast returning to areas that was malaria free for the last few decades.

In 2025 – 2026, we aim to distribute malaria preventative care packs to the most vulnerable persons in remote areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa.
A malaria prevention care packet consists of the following:
1. 6 months’ supply for a family of 6 persons with a mosquito repellent to put on the physical body containing DEET (diethyltoluamide)
2. Chemically treated Bell shape mosquito netting for over beds x 3
3. “Permethrin” for chemical treatment of clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags and other fabrics to repel mosquitos. (1 litre)
4. Educational booklet with illustrations for illiterate persons x 1
We do not provide chemoprophylaxis such as Atovaquone-proguanil, Doxycycline or Mefloquine etc. to persons, due to the very high risk of parents leaving the medications within reach of small children, misunderstanding the dosage and allergic reactions.
The cost per malaria preventative care pack is R 1 580-00 each, excluding distribution.