Malaria-a silent killer take six lakh lives worldwide

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Hussan Zadgai, a 70-year old woman has lost battle fora life at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar after she was diagnosed with the killer malaria disease on August 27 last.

Fighting for life for over 12 days at the province’s biggest hospital, Husan Zadgai, a resident of tehsil Pabbi Nowshera could not survived even on ventilator after the killer disease had severely affected her lungs and body’s other vital organs and left the mortal world forever.

“My wife was complaining about high temperature with body’s chill since morning and was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital where she was admitted for nearly 12 days and finally lost her fight against Malaria,” said Misal Khan, the husband of the victim while talking to APP on Friday.

He said malaria had badly affected her vital organs including chest airways, lungs and heart, he said, adding that before two days of his untimely death, she was put on a ventilator and left forever on September 6 morning.

Abdul Rehman Khan, Associate Professor LRH told APP that Malaria was killer disease and its early diagnosis can save a patient’s life. “When Hussan Zadgai was brought to AMU ward, she had severe temperature, breath problems and was diagnosed with malaria positive and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease besides heart problems that weaken his body,” he said, adding these complications proved fatal for her.

According to the World Health Organization, around 217 million people in Pakistan are at moderate risk of malaria, and 63 million at high risk. Approximately, 0.47 million malaria cases and 800 deaths have been reported in 2020 in Pakistan. Nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria and there were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria worldwide with 619,000 death in 2021 compared to 245 million cases and 625,000 deaths in 2020.

Dr Malik Riaz, senior children specialist Govt hospital Pabbi Nowshera district told APP that malaria was a life-threatening disease that spread to humans after the bite of some types of mosquitoes and can affect people of all ages including children and senior citizens. In Pakistan, he said the disease was typically unstable, and its major transmission period was post-monsoon, i.e. from August to November with a negative impact on its socio-economic growth and productivity as the main transmission season was spiraled with the harvesting and sowing of the main crops including wheat, rice, sugarcane besides population movement from one place to other.

He said malaria was a preventable and curable disease but weaker people with low immunity were highly vulnerable to become its victims. Dr Riaz said the disease does not spread from person to person, and that persons with symptoms such as fever, chills and headache besides fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing should immediately contact their doctors.

He said a malaria control program was underway in Khyber Pakthunkhwa to provide free treatment to patients besides ensuring early diagnosis and prompt treatment services to the vulnerable groups at high risk districts. Besides increasing community awareness, he said the malaria prevention measures also focuses on health promotion, advocacy and awareness among communities.

The experts said the media and civil society role was important to create awareness against the disease and sensitize people imperative to win the fight against malaria. (APP)