Malaria in Malawi. The current status of diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of malaria in Malawi, how international and national guidelines can improve the situation, and how research can change these guidelines for the future

Abstract

Background: Malaria is still the number one killer in sub-Saharan Africa, even though it is in principle a preventable and treatable disease. A large amount of progress has been made over the last decades, but there is still a long way to go. We wanted to look at some of the challenges facing one sub-Saharan country, Malawi, with a focus on how international and national guidelines help this country with the burden of this disease. We also wanted to look at how research may change these guidelines in the future, and assess if there is a role for using DDT as a means for controlling malaria.

Method: This study is largely based on literary sources, in addition to a personal excursion to Malawi in order to gain first-hand knowledge and a better understanding of the challenges facing the country.

Discussion and conclusion: We found that the current international guidelines are effective tools in the fight against malaria, and that DDT use is still indicated because of a lack of better alternatives. Through developing these recommendations and helping in their fulfilment, international organizations such as WHO play an important role in the continued fight against malaria. Countries can use the international recommendations to develop their own national guidelines, adapting them to better suit local resources and priorities. On-going research has a lot of potential to help make the guidelines become even more effective in the future. Progress in countries such as Malawi is being made, despite large challenges when it comes to lack of adequate resources.