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WHY?:

WHY?:. In the months of January 2010 through to September 2010, across our projects we lost a total of 95 days of work from our staff, due to malaria. 95 days This included people who may have caught malaria on their field break, and then returned to work. Contents:. What is Malaria?

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WHY?:

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  1. WHY?: In the months of January 2010 through to September 2010, across our projects we lost a total of 95 days of work from our staff, due to malaria. 95 days This included people who may have caught malaria on their field break, and then returned to work.

  2. Contents: • What is Malaria? • Where is it found? • How could I catch it? • How can I avoid it? • What are the signs and symptoms? • Can it be treated? How? • What should do if I think I have Malaria? • How do I use the malaria test kits? • More information sources

  3. What is Malaria? • Blood disorder, transmitted by a certain type of mosquito. • There are four different types, possibly a fifth. • In AusPac region, two are the most common. • Most deadly type is pf, and we have that type in PNG. • It is not transmitted through blood – only risk of catching it from someone who has it is if the right type of mosquito bit that person and then bit you.

  4. Where is Malaria found? • All throughout PNG. Some areas don’t have many cases there, however often the change in temperature from a hot to cold place can bring out malaria in someone who already has it.

  5. How could I catch it? • The mosquito that carries malaria is silent. You cannot hear it. • Mosquitoes are prevalent at dawn and dusk • Mosquitoes are attracted to perfumes, dark colours, and the smell of you (carbon dioxide). • That is why our Disease Control Standard has an appendix to it all about malaria, and we encourage you to: • wear long sleeved shirts and pants after hours, • spray your room, • sleep under a mozzie net or keep your tent meshing closed, • wear insect repellant. It is why our camps have insect repellant available.

  6. How can I avoid it? • Cover up. Light colours are best. • Apply mosquito repellant – not on cuts or wounds. 30% DEET is ideal. • Wear long sleeved shirts and pants. • Spray your room.

  7. What are the signs and symptoms? • Flu like symptoms PLUS any of the following: • Sweats • Shivering • Muscle aches • Vomiting • Tiredness • Diarrhoea You may feel hot for a while, then cold and shivery. The only way to confirm if you have malaria, is to have a blood test.

  8. Can it be treated? How? • Yes, there is medicine available, although no medicine is 100% effective. • You should start treatment as soon as you are diagnosed with malaria. • It is treated with a combination of drugs. Some areas have a resistance to certain types of medicine eg: Primaquine.

  9. What should I do if I think I have Malaria? • Advise Safety Medic or senior person onsite. • Get tested. • If a positive result, take medicine and contact doctor for further advice. • If negative result, consider other causes. If unsure, speak to a doctor. • If in doubt, contact a doctor.

  10. How do I use the self test kit? • Refer to the poster, which we have developed and shared with other companies. It is on many of the notice-boards. • The test is VERY easy to do, but you need to do it in the right sequence. • Practice it, before you actually need it!

  11. Any Questions?

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