Effects of Malaria on Education

1. PROBLEM Effects of Malaria on Education • Malaria is an important cause of mortality (10-20% of total) and morbidity to school-aged children • Malaria is responsible for 13-50% of all absenteeism due to ill health WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

2. Endemic / Epidemic Risk Areas for Malaria PROBLEM WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank Endemic areas are defined as "areas with significant annual transmission, be it seasonal or perennial". Epidemic areas are defined as "areas prone to distinct inter-annual variation, in some years with no transmission taking place at all". 

3. PROBLEM Highland areas (above 1300m) showing climatic suitability for malaria transmission, therefore showing potential highland malaria areas. WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

4. Epidemic Malaria on Education • In epidemic areas, there is a lower percentage of functional immunity than in endemic areas, therefore, school-aged children in epidemic area are at higher risk for malaria than elsewhere • More study is needed. WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

5. Endemic Malaria on Education • In endemic areas, malaria affects pre-school children mostly (75%) but the effect on education is high with the high number of school days lost because of malaria related illness • In endemic areas, children regularly self-treat themselves and the treatment is often inappropriate and /or inadequate WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

6. SOLUTION Malaria Prevention • FRESH • A common vision for Malaria prevention WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

7. FRESH Malaria Interventions • Clear school health policy on rapid treatment for malaria • Healthy environment where mosquitoes cannot breed • Skills-based education for appropriate treatment and for net usage • School-based services when clinics are unavailable WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

8. Case Study : Kenya • Malaria causes 3,550 deaths in stable transmission areas in Kenya • Malaria causes 1-6 million schooldays lost annually • Disease burden may be greatest in unstable areas; however, treatment may be best targeted at whole community (Information for Kenya based on study by S. Brooker, H.Guyatt, J.Omumbo, R. Shretta, J.Ouma & B. Snow) WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

9. Burden of Disease in Kenya WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank (Information for Kenya based on study by S. Brooker, H.Guyatt, J.Omumbo, R. Shretta, J.Ouma & B. Snow)

10. Cost-Analysis of Different Treatment Options for Kenya WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank (Information for Kenya based on study by S. Brooker, H.Guyatt, J.Omumbo, R. Shretta, J.Ouma & B. Snow)

11. Malaria Prevention in Schools • Empower children, though skill-based health education, to recognise the symptoms of malaria and seek appropriate treatment • Empower children, though skill-based health education, to use mosquito nets • Enable teachers to provide presumptive treatment WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank

12. FRESH Programs in Development Malawi Mali Mauritania Namibia Niger Senegal South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe • Benin • Botswana • Burkina Faso • Cameroon • Cape Verde • Chad • Cote d’Ivoire • Eritrea • The Gambia • Ghana • Guinea • Lesotho • Madagascar WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO & World Bank