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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Nov 2008 : 20:11:19
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http://allafrica.com/stories/200811070752.html
Snippet:
The said article gave a detailed explanation leading to the massive decline of malaria cases in The Gambia to the point of no single death relating to malaria registered in the year 2007. This development is a source of great relief and, indeed a worthy cause for celebration.
Gambia is progressing in one way!
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 07 Nov 2008 20:13:22 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2008 : 21:06:57
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Where are the statistical evidence to support this?
Whilst there are lots of improvements going on I dont believe there have been NO deaths to Malaria...even in the UK there are some each year!!!!
Is this Presidential propaganda or is it true? Can anyone help on this? |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2008 : 21:35:51
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In my opinion the ‘The Daily Observer’ have misrepresented the facts reported by The Lancet.
The Daily Observer quoted the following:
‘The said article gave a detailed explanation leading to the massive decline of malaria cases in The Gambia to the point of no single death relating to malaria registered in the year 2007.
The Lancet report states:
We undertook a retrospective analysis of original records to establish numbers and proportions of malaria inpatients, deaths, and blood-slide examinations at one hospital over 9 years (January, 1999—December, 2007), and at four health facilities in three different administrative regions over 7 years (January, 2001—December, 2007). We obtained additional data from single sites for haemoglobin concentrations in paediatric admissions and for age distribution of malaria admissions.
Findings:
From 2003 to 2007, at four sites with complete slide examination records, the proportions of malaria-positive slides decreased by 82% (3397/10861 in 2003 to 337/6142 in 2007), 85% (137/1259 to 6/368), 73% (3664/16932 to 666/11333), and 50% (1206/3304 to 336/1853). At three sites with complete admission records, the proportions of malaria admissions fell by 74% (435/2530 to 69/1531), 69% (797/2824 to 89/1032), and 27% (2204/4056 to 496/1251). Proportions of deaths attributed to malaria in two hospitals decreased by 100% (seven of 115 in 2003 to none of 117 in 2007) and 90% (22/122 in 2003 to one of 58 in 2007). Since 2004, mean haemoglobin concentrations for all-cause admissions increased by 12 g/L (85 g/L in 2000—04 to 97 g/L in 2005—07), and mean age of paediatric malaria admissions increased from 3·9 years (95% CI 3·7—4·0) to 5·6 years (5·0—6·2).
The Lancet figures relate to inpatients at one hospital and four health facilities.
The Daily Observer has given the impression that The Gambia had NO DEATHS at all from malaria during 2007. This is just as dangerous as informing the nation (and the world) the President can cure HIV/AIDS.
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
Edited by - sab on 07 Nov 2008 23:08:23 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2008 : 22:55:17
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Thanks SAB, Ah.........Propaganda .
Lesson one NEVER believe what you read in the newspapers, I must admit that I was conned never thought of going to the Lancet EXACTLY what the report said.Well done Sab |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 07 Nov 2008 22:56:52 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2008 : 08:24:07
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| Thanks Sab. |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2008 : 10:49:51
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| I know of 1 death a friend of mine anybody know of any more? |
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tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 20:27:42
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My friend brought her fiance to Gambia to stay for 1 week in December 2007 . He died in the UK 11 days later after visitng the Doctor and Hospital twice. As he continued to deteriorate he then got referred from his home in Kent to The Tropical Disease Hospital in London. He died as he was waiting to be admitted. This was despite repeating he had just returned from The Gambia.
The problem is, although Malaria cases are on the increase in the UK, the Health Departments tend to diagnose common ailments known in the UK before eventually testing for Malaria.
Unfortunately he hadn`t taken Malaria medication.
I discussed this with a chemist in Gambia - She gave e good advice- Go to a chemist 2 days before your are due to return to the UK. Get a malaria test -You get the results straight away and can start to be treated immediately, which is key to survival. I have forgotten the name of the chain of chemists who do this, but one of them is at WESTFIELD. To Westerners it is not at all expensive.
More often than not, people living in Gambia say they become immune
to getting Malaria, so they dont take any precautions, this still continues to alram me, (although when I lived there for 6 months I got very laxed in taking mine).
I now believe this is a myth.
Maybe SAB`s extensive knowledge on these things can educate us more ?
Also, I man aged 28 from Manchester who regularly visits with his band to learn music sady died the same year on his way to Guinea Conakry.
These are two people in my cirlce of friends in the UK who I know of,
Yes Snuggles, It will be very interesting to see howe many of us
know of someone returning to the UK got Malaria whether they died or not
I say..... keep taking the tablets (with food so you dont feel sick) and if you miss some go and get that Thumb Prick !
Tapa |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 21:19:38
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Tapalapa.
Thats very good advice Never thought of that. I have only caught Malaria once. But know many that have caught it more than once. There is a clinic just up from the Amstadam Dolfin on the right hand side of the road. I forget the name. They will also do the tests
"I discussed this with a chemist in Gambia - She gave e good advice- Go to a chemist 2 days before your are due to return to the UK. Get a malaria test -You get the results straight away and can start to be treated immediately, which is key to survival. I have forgotten the name of the chain of chemists who do this, but one of them is at WESTFIELD. To Westerners it is not at all expensive"
We now have 3 that we know of any more? |
Edited by - snuggels on 10 Nov 2008 21:21:44 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 22:05:45
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I hope these postings are making people think carefully about their complacency and I hope everyone on bantaba will take medication in future!
Malaria is a killer. It is preventable and treatable.
Prevention is better than cure. |
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tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 22:34:46
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Is the chain of chemists called Onestop ?
I forget things when Im back in the UK then remember straight away once I land in the magical place called Gambia !
Tapa |
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tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 22:36:47
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Hi Snuggles
My reckoning is we now know of 3 deaths and 1 survival
Anymore ?
Tapa |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2008 : 23:14:20
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| I think you will find its Onestop chemists that sell the drugs. There is one just down and across the road from where I had my test done again its just up the road from the Amsterdam Dolfin. I think the place I went for the test was called Kololi Clinic? |
Edited by - snuggels on 10 Nov 2008 23:15:25 |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2008 : 14:05:29
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I tried finding a link from the Independent newspaper couple of years back, but I am in haste. So here is couple I googled:
http://www.tmb.ie/exodus/news.asp?id=31329
http://www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/archives/archive05/News/news4905.htm
You might like to google 'Britains returning from The Gambia with malaria' to see the importance of taking your prescribed medication.
From my own experience of patients in UK - the coroners court have heavily criticized the UK hospitals involved over lack of care & misreading test results from patients with malaria. Each had large press coverage. One patient had a Doctors letter diagnosing malaria when I took him into hospital, three weeks later still an in-patient in an Essex hospital he was transferred to London Hospital Tropical Diseases. but it was too late he died few days later.
I know of eleven European persons who have died whilst in The Gambia.
A European who has lived in Fajara since the eighties knows of more than thirty Europeans dying. I was forbidden to do so because of the problems involved.
Let us also remember the vast number of Gambian families who loose members of their families through malaria and in many cases are unable to find the funds for the medication.
Remember to read your instructions as some medicines can strengthen/weaken the effectiveness of Maralone.
If you are sick within one hour of taking
Maralone you should take another tablet!
I have already started Maralone for a months visit - and advise everyone not to be foolish and take their's when visiting.
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Momodou
Denmark
11786 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 22:32:03
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Sab, thanks for that advice. It has been reported today on the Danish Radio that seven people are currently hospitalised in different hospitals with a very serious variant of malaria called falciparum. All seven had recently been on holidays to Gambia without taking any malaria tablets.
A woman who had recently been to Gambia was also found dead in her apartment and there is an investigation going to verify if she died because of malaria.
The Danish version of the article can be found at: http://politiken.dk/tjek/rejser/afrika/article602249.ece
and
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2008/11/24/195239.htm
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 22:35:00
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So Momodou will you take your medication in future>!  |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 23:07:15
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| Talking about panic I was on a trip to Banjul and saw a poster about malaria which boldly advised of the presence of the deadly sickness, I hadn't taken any malarial treatment prior to my journey and I became paranoid.I kept asking my mate to get me to see a doctor pronto to get help before it was too late.Boy any fly landing on my skin got a smashing welcome as I thought it to be the terrible mosquito, wow that was a trip I wont forget in a haste.I eventually got my star dose as I learnt and came back to the UK safe. |
Edited by - kaanibaa on 24 Nov 2008 23:08:19 |
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