STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD OF MALARIA

Impact India, has initiated the Malaria Control programme in Mumbai by opening clinics at various endemic Municipal wards of the city in association with the BMC ( Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ), Tata Council for Community Initiatives and Tata Social Welfare Trust. 

The clinics provide free testing of blood, prompt results and immediate medication free of cost with an endured follow-up of all positive cases. 

Since it was started in 1997, nearly 500,000 patients have been treated.

( Malaria Clinic Bus ) 

Malaria is a protozoal disease caused by infection with parasites of the genus plasmodium and transmitted to man by certain species of infected female Anopheline mosquito. A typical attack comprise of :

• Cold Stage : This is characterized by sudden onset of fever with rigor and sensation of extreme cold. The patient desires to be covered with blankets. This stage lasts between 15 minutes and one hour.

• Hot Stage : The temperature may rise to 41^o C ( 106^o F ). The patient feels burning hot and casts off his clothes. There is intense headache. This stage lasts from 2 to 6 hours.

• Sweating stage : Fever comes down with profuse sweating. This stage lasts from2 to 4 hours. The febrile paroxysms occur with definite intermittent periodicity repeating every third and fourth day depending upon the species of the parasite involved. Periods of latency may last several weeks or months. The disease has a tendency to relapse and is characterized by the enlargement of the spleen and secondary anemia.

Programme for Malaria Control