What Does Malaria in Africa Have to do With Bone Marrow Donors?
Nigeria has about 40% of all the Malaria mortality rates in the world. These statistics are based on death rates among children who are 1-5 years old. Two years ago, the Nigerian Malaria Investors Workshop gathered several state representatives to discuss the severity of Malaria outbreaks among children. The ultimate goal of these meetings was to note any obstacles impeding healthcare efforts. Healthcare providers were uninformed about the latest changes in medicine, and documentation/reporting these incidences. (1) Pregnant mothers needed to be monitored more closely in alliance with the WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines on administering Quinine. (1) Training brochures were sent out in an attempt to bridge the knowledge gap among healthcare workers. Communication is imperative in the healthcare industry, making calm out of chaos. It requires teamwork, and all states using similar diagnostic measures.
Nigerian health supply organizations were not on the same page with each other, creating confusion; which led to untimely funding. Patient referrals were insufficient, medications were disposed of; compounded with outdated technology, led to an overwhelmed healthcare system. (1) The next strategy was to build a fifth National Malaria Plan during 2021-2025.
As a result of unclear guidelines and medication contraindications, the Community health Influencers and Promoters of Services (CHIPS) was founded in 2018. CHIPS is comprised of mostly women that educate and advocate for healthcare among their communities. CHIPS facilitates quick healthcare access as these women are trained to identify severe symptoms of Malaria and take immediate action; while documenting and reporting the location of the pediatric patients. (1) There were 800 documented pediatric cases of malaria in March of 2023, thanks to CHIPS, who streamlined treatment of these children – quickly providing ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy). (1) CHIPS agents look for symptoms of severe Malaria in children while using a standardized assessment form. If symptoms are deemed severe, children go to the hospital right away, (aka a pre-referral). The process doesn’t end here though, CHIPS personnel gather demographical information, document it, and pass it on to the CEFPs (Community Engagement Focal Persons) for translational review. Once the CEFPs approve the documented case, it is forwarded to the LGA and LSA (local and state agencies). (1) Over the span of 5 years and about 1000 health facilities studied, results were varied.
Health systems need checks and balances to prevent treatment errors. Organized and accountable, humanitarian government spending, especially in the healthcare sector is demanded. Politicians must disperse funding to these state and local organizations, beginning from the top down. If funds aren’t transferred to these states, healthcare providers have their hands tied, then they don’t have the supplies needed to complete their job, resulting in burnout-and increased deaths. Since the beginning of CHIPS, according to the Severe malaria intervention status in Nigeria: workshop meeting report; “These interventions have generated improvements in malaria key indicators, with a 26% decline in malaria incidence and a 55% decrease in mortality between 2000 and 2021 [3]. Importantly, there has also been an overall decline in parasite prevalence in children under 5 years from 42% in 2010 to 22% in 2021.” (1) It’s amazing this organization has decreased malaria deaths significantly, but let’s look at today’s current problem. There are multiple complexities facing the communities of Nigeria and not all can be controlled. Nigeria’s differing climate among states has become a huge problem, linking varied weather changes to mosquito breeding cycles. (1)Please read about the severity of the problem, from a young girl’s personal experience in Nigeria, authored by Marvellous Akingboye. (3) Marvellous Akingboye has included the latest research studies in his article, sharing key interventions that can avoid mosquito bites altogether. (3) It’s imperative that top leaders/stakeholders consider more funding for anti-malaria efforts, and prepare resources in advance to cope with extended periods of rain in different parts of Africa. “For Africans like me who have endured malaria several times a year, this is not just frustrating… It’s dangerous.”- Marvellous Akingboye
A debilitating secondary diagnosis of malaria is anemia, or lack of red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Africans diagnosed with sickle cell anemia are at increased risk of needing healthy red blood cells if Malaria is also contracted. While there has been discussion of umbilical cord banks, no further interventions have been solidified. (2) The problem with retrieving stem cells from donors in North and South America is the lack of African donors. Bone marrow registries both in Nigeria and worldwide are in desperate need of volunteer donations from varying ethnic groups and tribes. (2)
If you know of anyone in need of a blood marrow donor of color, either living in Nigeria/Africa or the US, please find resources located here and sign up today to become a Nigerian donor. Some global registries may even accept donations from Africans who are not related, but have similar genetic traits. (2, 4) Donators are not solely needed for Malaria, rather sickle cell disease and other types of blood cancers.
Let’s be proactive and acknowledge the issue at hand, prepare ahead for future epidemics correlating with temperature changes and variable weather patterns. Stopping Malaria means spreading and sharing knowledge about it. Advocate on behalf of silent, or quieted young voices today, who are unable to fight Malaria alone. Donating your bone marrow can save many lives, not only here in America, but overseas, especially those affected the most by this disease – Nigerian children, and their families. (1-3)
References:
1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11155025/#Sec22
2. https://www.unn.edu.ng/research-groups/bone-marrow-donors-registry-in-nigeria-researchgroup/#:~:
text=The%20Bone%20Marrow%20Donors%20Registry,Donor%20requirements%20a
nd%20Related%20Donors
3. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/climate-change-malaria-new-frontier-public-health-africaakingboye-
yoxtf/?trackingId=1rR8AIXV%2FY6yfQ%2FgIvrtBw%3D%3D
4. https://swabtheworld.com/en/country/nigeria-
1#:~:text=Sign%20up,blood%20to%20the%20other%20arm
5. https://www.dkms.org/register-now