Solutions
Enormous advances have already been achieved through substantial international interventions in the fights against malaria. Lifesaving products, many of which were developed or applied with the help of Swiss involvement, have managed to reach hundreds of thousands of people and save lives.
A combination of properly applied methods have the potential to suppress malaria.
Bednets:
Bednets are a physical barrier for mosquitoes and protect humans who sleep under them from bites and thus a potential infection. Additionally, insecticide treated nets (ITNs) kill the mosquitoes that land on them.
Indoor Residual Insecticidal Spraying (IRS):
Spraying insecticides indoors can help to keep mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite at bay. Usually, IRS are sprayed around windows and doors.
Medicines:
There are artesimine-based combination therapies (ACT) to treat the disease. However, the disease must be diagnosed and treated within 24 hours to prevent severe courses. Increasing resistance makes the development of new drugs indispensable.
Diagnostics:
The sooner malaria is diagnosed, the quicker it can be treated. Unfortunately, many people lack access to diagnostics as well as treatment.
Research for a vaccine:
A first-generation vaccine exists, which has an efficacy of 30%. RTS/S provides moderate protection against Plasmodium falciparum - the most dangerous of the five malaria pathogens. We are at the beginning of the development of effective vaccines against malaria. The new mRNA technologies are the next hope.
Involvement of the civil population:
The more the civil population is involved, the better one can adapt to the local needs and issues and thus the more efficiently malaria can be fought.
Multi-sectoral approaches:
The fight against malaria takes place at different levels - research, private and public sector, civil society, local organisations, national governments - one alone cannot win against malaria.