Two years after school and taking my internship as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, I got a job into research to work on malaria projects. A clinical trial of the world’s first malaria vaccine which was being tested in about some hundreds of children and later in another phase, in 16000 children in 7 countries across Africa. Scientifically, my first appointment into research was to support on the malaria vaccine in the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. This means that there were earlier testing of the vaccine in animals and small number of human beings to see if the vaccine is safe to be used in human and which usually happens in the country of the manufacturer or developer of the vaccine. The vaccine is now accepted for use. Thankfully, capacity has been built in some African institutions to enable them test drugs and some medicines first time among human beings. Kintampo Health Research is one of such facilities in Africa.
I gained my first international travel after this appointment and ever since, meetings, workshop, conferences and further training have taken me to some few places in the name of capacity building. Building the authority to fight malaria as a person and also as a centre and country.
The only and most powerful X-ray machine in the Kintampo hospital was possible because it was a requirement before one could test the malaria vaccine. All medical staff in the various hospitals that get involved in the research of the malaria vaccines and drugs testing get training in diverse areas in addition to their qualifications.
I have heard people say financial gains in health research is good. It is a two sided coin situation and I may talk about it some day.
Malaria is caused by a parasite in a group called Plasmodium. There are about six different parasites in this group that is known to cause malaria in human beings now. Topping in the list is a common one called Plasmodium falciparum. This parasite is always the culprit in about 90% of the time when malaria is said to have killed children. The parasite is put in human beings when a type of an already infected female mosquito feed on the person. The mosquito injects the parasite from their saliva into our blood during the time it is collecting our blood.
We can then eliminate malaria if we get rid of any contact with mosquitoes. Some countries have been successful by doing this. Why is it not the way for everyone? Some people say that, mosquitoes are part of creation and they were made for a purpose. Getting rid of them might introduce something else we don’t know. So on that the focus has been how to create a barrier to avoid mosquito bites while they still live around us. Mosquito nets with insecticides are regularly used. Some also use repellents and all manner and brands of sprays and coils. It has kept research on these aspects of malaria control ongoing. But the block buster would have been get rid of that vector.
We have also considered getting drugs to treat people when they are finally down with malaria. This has kept many in the business of making and testing drugs for treating malaria. Issues of the malaria parasite developing the strength to resist the effect of the drugs around has kept researchers in serious business to find new drugs.
It then takes us to vaccines which like yellow fever, measles, hepatitis b, etc, could enable people overcome the effect of malaria whenever they come into contact with the parasite. The business has been huge for researchers to get one of such vaccines for the world. In a recent malaria meeting of about 2000 individuals directly involved in the malaria fight, it was clear that we are making gains but more money is needed also.
25th April 2018 was world malaria day. In my thoughts, I was wondering what actually is happening. If not for malaria, I would not be in such serious business searching for control and elimination measures. I am confused of my wish. Get rid of mosquitoes and go out of business or keep them around but avoid going down so that some of us could still be working hard?
What really is in focus globally? Is the fight that difficult? I will say yes. The will of people who matter to get rid of the vector is difficult to get. As such, we need to be very benevolent to work hard and get all human and the vector living in harmony.
These are my thoughts. What are yours??
