Prior departing for duty, I’ve gotten a chance to meet & greet with the predecessors, the military observer officers of whom previously assigned to Liberia. Tons of information shared and they also shared the insights of the mission and so forth.

One of the crucial info is health hazards that have been exposing mission staffs to various deseases to include malaria. One of whom had advised me strongly is my contingent commander; Leut. Col Hilman Hadi. He was deployed to the mission 2 months earlier than my arrival to Monrovia. He said that it is important to seek advice from healthcare professional prior travelling to a malarious destination, like in Liberia.

The below is the geographic of where rampant malaria is found:

One of the most straightforward ways of remembering how to protect against malaria is following the ABCD guide, as below:

Awareness of risk: All travellers to malarious areas must:

Be aware of the risk of malaria in the areas they visit:
1. Take action to reduce the risk
2. Seek immediate medical attention in the event of fever or flu like symptoms
3. Bites – prevent or avoid. Prevention is better than cure so all travellers to malarious areas should take personal protection measures to prevent or avoid mosquito bites

Try and keep their skin covered up particularly between sunset and sunrise. Use an insect repellent on clothes and any exposed skin and if sleeping in an unscreened room a mosquito net [which should be impregnated with insecticide] is a sensible precaution. While air conditioning does help keep the mosquitoes away due to the lower temperature, it is important that it is left on all day and windows are not left open at night. That is why my housemate often complain of feeling too cold when I put the AC to its minimum.

Compliance with appropriate chemoprophylaxis. Most deaths occur in those who take antimalarials irregularly or not at all.

Diagnose breakthrough of malaria swiftly and obtain treatment promptly. Travellers should be aware of the symptoms of malaria, even after returning from a malarious country

Several colleagues I share the mission experience with, and had been subjected to Malaria, said that it was a painful and suffering experience. Some of their advise are stay away from being bitten. The mission’s doctor here also pointed out several facts about malaria:

1. Malaria can be prevented with the correct use of antimalarials
2. Not all antimalarials are the same when it comes to side effects, duration of course and cost
3. Travellers should seek advice from their general physicians, practice nurse or pharmacist well in advance of travelling
4. Diagnose breakthrough of malaria swiftly and obtain treatment promptly
5. Travellers should be aware of the symptoms of malaria, even after returning from a malarious country:

If malaria is suspected, a medical professional should be consulted as quickly as possible for prompt treatment.

Understanding my duty and role as military observer, I’ve been exposed to various field trips and patrols into the bushes. Meeting the town chiefs and village people and conducting some surveys on various aspects that supports the peace-process.

Some facts I learned that for almost ten years, the World Health Organization and their organization partners launched the Roll Back Malaria initiative, malaria is still the single largest child killer in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease takes the lives of some 3,000 children per day.

3,000 kids per day all over africa. Pretty scary figures!!. This data is according to UNICEF’s statistics, reference World Malaria Day 2008.

To protect children and families who are still at risk, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had announced a new initiative providing for universal access to mosquito nets in Africa, where 90 per cent of malaria cases occur – by the end of 2010.

Similar to the effort above, at UNMIL, we do maintain consistent effort to ensure that our accomodation is free from malaria-carrying-mosquito. Meet our colleague, Mustafa from the JORMED, stands for Jordan Medical Contingent. Mustafa and few other colleagues have been very kind to conduct some assistance to fumigate the camp I am staying.

Just look at his face, he must be very tired of carying the huge smogger and may [perhaps] have tasted some smoke. LOL!

Thanks to you, Mustafa! – I guess now I can sleep bare chest with peace of mind. My nights will be free from mosquito and this tangling mosquito net!

Guys, have you had malaria before? and how’d you gotten well? share me and other some of your experience story, please.. :)