Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
The essay will examine important policies and current public health practices that advance the future of nursing. In addition, the essay will evaluate partnership approaches with respect to global health inequalities. In the same breadth, the essay will highlight effective modes of addressing the global health challenge. This essay compares malaria in Nigeria against the UK.
Malaria infects approximately a quarter of a billion people annually. According to World Health Organisation (2020), Malaria killed 409,000 people in 2019 alone. The disease is endemic in Nigeria, and this implies that almost the entire population can get infected by this plasmodium parasite. Reports from WHO (2022) indicate that 23 percent of malaria cases, on a global scale, came from Nigeria. In addition, the country also accounted for 27% of global deaths related to malaria in 2019 (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). At that point, malaria becomes a serious issue of national concern in Nigeria and the pangs of its burden stemmed from grinding poverty, inadequate healthcare systems, and lack of access to quality treatment and deterrence measures (Nwaneli et al., 2020).
On the contrary, the severity of malaria in Nigeria is not as lethal in the UK. The UK government eradicated malaria in the second half of the twentieth century. However, this does not mean the UK is completely malaria-free. Nevertheless, common cases are often imported by people who come from malaria areas. According to Public Health England (2020) less than 2000 malaria cases were recorded in 2019, most of which were imported. The low occurrence may be a result of UK’s state of the art healthcare system, proficient control measures, and good living standards. The high poverty index in Nigeria is a pertinent factor that makes people susceptible to Malaria bites owing to inadequate housing and sanitation. Also, there is the aspect of restricted access to deterrent measures such as treated mosquito nets and drugs (WHO, 2022). Geography and the climate are also to blame for endemic malaria in Nigeria (Kulkami et al. 2022). Nonetheless, in the UK, people who travel in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of getting infected with Malaria (Kulkami et al. 2022). The same is true for persons that are immunocompromised and those who fail to adhere to medication.
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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Nigeria and the UK have put in place policies and initiatives that are instrumental in suppressing malaria (Oyerogba et al. 2023). Nigerian authority is determined to end the malaria scourge, and this has seen it rollout a far-reaching policy framework and proactive initiative. With the help of initiatives such as the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), the government works in partnership with stakeholders to craft effective strategies that work to lessen the fatal effects and death rates associated with malaria (WHO, 2022). The distribution of treated nets in remote parts of Nigeria has been a success story. Millions of Nigerians in rural parts of the country, including pregnant women and children are now able to ward off mosquitoes because they received nets. In addition, the government works with international partners to source funds, which makes it effortless to distribute nets, and by 2018, this initiative had covered 69% of rural Nigeria (Akpan, 2022).
Health promotion initiatives in Nigeria play a monumental role in creating awareness about malaria, the parasite behind it, and how to avert the disease (Sahu et al., 2020). Through community education programs, Nigerian citizens are educated about the spread, symptoms, and the need for timely intervention to prevent malaria (Osborne et al., 2021). On the contrary, healthcare practitioners grapple with the issue of limited resources, inadequate training, and the scarcity of nurses (Joseph et al., 2020). To bring down the death toll associated with malaria, public health initiatives in Nigeria use prompt and effective treatment as well as improved access to quality services (WHO, 2022). Public health initiatives in Nigeria are also concerned with ensuring the affected population gets the best anti-malarial treatment on time and this has been essential in minimising the death toll.
In Nigeria, for instance, nursing action plans to intervene are often thwarted by traditional beliefs and myths that are based on misinformation, and largely the failed education and advocacy initiatives. The IMCI in Nigeria has executed its primary goal of enhancing child health (WHO, 2022). While IMCI has been instrumental in stemming the tide, at the core of this public health initiative is the diagnosis, treatment, and deterrence of malaria and other ailments affecting children. The NMEP health initiative plays a critical role in coordinating malaria control programs across the country aimed at scaling down the burden it has on people and the economy and also working towards eliminating it (Akpan, 2022). NMEP also distributes treated nets to the affected population in addition to free treatment to expectant mothers and children. Nigeria has been marred with cases of disjointed coordination that stems from a disorganised healthcare system. This has often led to inadequacies, the duplication of initiatives, and misunderstanding among different stakeholders (WHO, 2022).
Nonetheless, the UK government has formulated various policies and guidelines that are fundamental in combating the scourge. This includes ensuring that healthcare facilities across the UK have enough healthcare practitioners (WHO, 2022). The core responsibility of healthcare providers in the UK centres on the provision of education and guidance to curb malaria among travellers.
While the two countries have made strong progress in curtailing the burden of malaria, the differences in the approach are occasioned by the burden of the plasmodium virus in each country. Nevertheless, the approaches to combating malaria differ in the two countries. While Nigeria embraces treatment and preventative measures through the distribution of nets, the UK is more concerned with research and capacity building. Ultimately, despite the overwhelming burden of the disease in Nigeria, progress in the two countries is evident, and malaria has suffered a major blow.
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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Far from the achievements that have been met so far, in both countries, issues often arise with untimely distributions on treated nets that lead to coverage gaps. The quality of ACTs has been questioned in some parts of Nigeria and its accessibility. More so, the UK faces the risk of imported malaria cases owing to the surge in the number of travellers from endemic areas that have seen strains resistant to drugs spread. The high burden of malaria comes with monumental effects on the country’s social, economic, and health wellbeing, which hinders development and progress. The PHE and MOH work in partnership with nurses, various government agencies, and health authorities at the local level to mitigate malaria from spreading across the UK (McKinney et al., 2020). Again, although the two organisations work hand in hand to craft and implement effective policies and approaches that address the malaria issue, PHE has also been committed to the formulation of policies and taking initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities.
On the other hand, nurses in the UK work in partnership with mobile clinics, and part of the education stresses the need for effective treatment, the use of treated nets, and taking precautions when traveling to endemic countries. Moreover, PHE and MoH play a critical of monitoring cases related to malaria across the UK (DOH, 2023). It is the data acquired from captured cases that inform risky areas, and trends and this also helps to quantify how effective interventions can be.
Both PHE and MoH provide healthcare practitioners with training and direction when it comes to diagnosing, treating, and controlling malaria. By reviewing and updating clinical recommendations on a regular basis, PHE and MoH ensure that healthcare practitioners are treating and preventing the affected population using current and evidence-based approaches. They also create awareness and educate the public concerning risks, symptoms, and how to put the disease at bay through prompt medical attention. In equal measure, NICE has effective guidelines for health healthcare practitioners to diagnose, prevent, and treat malaria. Like the WHO and PHE, NICE supports the use of mosquito repellent-treated nets to curb the spread of malaria. Despite the efficacy of partnerships among different players in fighting malaria in the UK and Nigeria, the lack of political and fiscal commitment is a major setback. Since malaria is not a threat in developed nations, it is often not prioritised when it comes to funding the Nigerian healthcare systems to fight it.
The poverty index in Nigeria is quite high with 40% of the populace living in obscurity (WHO, 2022). And yet poverty is a function in the continued prevalence of malaria as the majority cannot afford treated mosquito nets and insecticides leaving them vulnerable. Due to poverty, some people are not able to access healthcare services on time, and this makes malaria even more deadly. Health inequality has a bearing on the spread of malaria in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where the majority inhabits despite limited facilities and less qualified practitioners. Such an environment will almost certainly witness delayed diagnosis and treatment extreme illness and eventual death.
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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Since resources are concentrated in urban centres, the colossal inequality in the dispersal of healthcare resources between urban and rural areas exacerbates the variations in healthcare access (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). Ultimately, this contributes to the high burden of malaria. The fact that Nigeria is an African country, people have different beliefs and practices, some of which prevent efforts directed against malaria. Some communities, for instance, hold the view that diseases stem from supernatural causes, and hence rely on spiritualists for treatment (WHO, 2022). Failure to seek the right medication leads to a high prevalence of the disease. Again, in most cultures, stagnant water is evident in homesteads for whatever purposes; however, stagnant water which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitos propagates the risk of malaria.
The UN and WHO have been instrumental when it comes to battling malaria in Nigeria. In particular, WHO has been offering technical assistance to the Nigerian authorities to formulate and implement effective malaria control mechanisms (WHO, 2022). WHO has been spearheading the implementation of indoor spraying schemes. Besides, it offers training to healthcare professionals, as well as distributing treated nets. The UN, through the development of humanitarian initiatives, has been relentless in addressing socio-economic determinants of malaria, including poverty and inequalities. Furthermore, WHO and UN work jointly with the Nigerian authorities to create awareness, sensitise the rural populace about the need to seek effective treatment and preventive measures such as treated nets (WHO, 2022). All these efforts have contributed to a significant reduction in deaths associated with malaria.
Inasmuch as the UK has made momentous headway in the fight against malaria, the social determinants of health such as low-income neighbourhoods among other inequalities often impede the gains made when it comes to eliminating the disease (WHO, 2022). The low-income population, for instance, is highly likely to wallow in paucity in comparison to the general populace, and yet it goes without saying just how poverty has a direct effect in relation to access to insecticides, clean water, and hygiene. The absence of these key variables makes it impossible to obliterate the scourge. Moreover, marginalized communities often lack access to healthcare services, which is a crucial component in the fight against malaria. Many people in these communities may not have health insurance or cannot afford to pay for healthcare services, making it difficult to access malaria prevention and treatment. This results in a delay in diagnosis and treatment, leading to more severe cases of the disease and increased mortality rates.
Again, far from poverty and inadequate access to healthcare that characterise low-income neighbourhoods, cultural barriers have been shown to impede the fight against malaria in the UK (DOH, 2023). Since ethnic minorities have more cultural practices that help to interpret their worldview, they may contradict contemporary medicine and essentially rescind seeking medical care. In the same measure, the language barrier leads to ineffective communication, which gives healthcare practitioners a hard time trying to communicate pertinent information that entails treating and averting malaria. Although the marginalised community constitutes less than 15% of the UK population, it becomes evident just how they reported more than 80% of cases according to WHO statistics in 2019 (WHO, 2022). While the numbers are pegged on the health inequalities evident across the UK, it also reinforces the disproportionate weight of the disease on marginalised communities. Poverty is a major determinant of health, in this respect; people from low social-economic cadres live in overcrowded and deplorable conditions an aspect that makes them vulnerable to malaria (Nwaneli, 2020). Nonetheless, since low socioeconomic communities are synonymous with poor health outcomes is implicit of the fact that they may never get access to effective treatment or even treated nets and jelly that puts mosquitos at bay. Poverty may also limit people in impoverished areas from getting access to the right knowledge which makes it difficult to avert malaria (Nwaneli, 2020). In addition, women are more likely to fall victim to the plasmodium parasite than males an aspect that points to systemic gender-based health inequality. Apart from discrimination based on gender, women are often economically disadvantaged than male and this exacerbates their condition in terms of susceptibility to malaria and limited access to quality care.
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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Also, the position of women in a family setup may prevent them from making decisions concerning their health and family members alike an aspect that impedes the fight against malaria. Owing to the illicit nature of their occupation, sex workers grapple with the issue of discrimination and stigma, and these may hamper their quest to access quality healthcare services or resources needed to ward off this preventable and treatable disease (WHO, 2020). Since BAME communities are systematically excluded, it results in paucity and restricted access to quality healthcare. As a minority ethnic group, the language barrier also plays a role that precludes their quest to get the right information and resources critical in treating and averting malaria. Nevertheless, the LGBT groups are faced with discrimination as well as stigma that often leads to mental health complications such as stress, anxiety, depression, and limited access to quality healthcare (WHO, 2023). This stigma is also associated with the difficulty of access to resources an issue that precludes them from getting healthcare services on time.
Partnerships allow for the pooling of resources, both financial and non-financial. Malaria is a costly disease to prevent and treat, and collaborations enable the sharing of financial burdens (Akpan, 2022). An effective approach to combating malaria begins with acknowledging the fact that malaria is a costly ailment that calls for concerted efforts and partnerships from different players. This partnership has been actualised between the UK government and organisations such as the Global Fund to roll back the malaria scourge.
All these establishments share common approaches that include raising awareness, advancing the course of research through funding, and offering advice (Chattu and Aslanyan, 2020). Nonetheless, like some of these organisations, nurses in the UK take an active part in research, undertaking diagnostic tests and shadowing malaria as it spreads across the UK (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). Malaria awareness is made possible with the execution of several campaigns and events aimed at educating the public about malaria, how to detect symptoms, and how to keep it at bay. In this age of social media, partnerships make good use of these platforms to ensure preventive campaigns reach a broader audience.
While these organisations offer support to the affected population and family members, this also helps to manage and cope with the condition. Inasmuch as nurses assume the duties of physicians which include carrying out the diagnosis and implementing treatment regimens, the scarcity of healthcare practitioners leads to burnouts, which impact the quality and outcome of care. Pledging funds for research helps in understanding the occurrence, recognising risk factors, and creating new therapies based on new evidence (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). Ultimately, research outcomes inform policy formulation and development of effective treatment plans among other preventive measures. However, despite the monumental impact resulting from the partnership of different organisations, awareness is yet to reach certain areas just as resources are limited an aspect that makes it difficult to fight malaria in the UK.
Awareness and education are lacking in both countries. The net effect of these two elements has resulted in people delaying getting medical services as an aspect that aggravates the condition. In addition, a lack of education is also seen on how the affected population treats the issue of medication adherence and the use of treated nets (Na’uzo et al., 2020). Besides these efforts, NGOs which are local and international remain instrumental in the war against malaria across Nigeria. They work in partnership with government agencies and the local community to roll out sustainable and effective measures for curbing malaria (Osborne et al., 2021).
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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The Malaria Consortium, for instance, works towards eradicating malaria and this is realised through initiatives that educate the population and community workers (Baraka et al. 2023). In addition, the Gates Foundation has maintained its commitment to invest in research and development to help fabricate new applications and approaches that are effective in curbing malaria (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). The net effect is the development of treated and lasting nets that reduce malaria. As of 2019, for instance, the UN in partnership with the Gates Foundation and Global Fund provides hundreds of thousands of treated nets (Wiktorowicz et al. 2023). Oxfam, for instance, works in cooperation with NGOs and Women Groups to execute programs that combat malaria without hampering cultural values. Essentially, this mutual working relationship characterised by collaboration, awareness, and intervention has impacted patient outcomes.
Moreover, partnerships in the two countries grapple with the issue of capacity and coordination. The UK healthcare system not only has a shortage of healthcare providers, but it is also unable to retain qualified practitioners owing to limited resources and the high cost of living. In most cases, this has resulted in stalled community initiatives and poor healthcare outcomes (Osborne et al., 2021). The political and monetary commitment of the government can help when it comes to addressing these challenges in the UK and Nigeria (WHO, 2023). Both countries require putting in place effective campaign machinery to showcase the socioeconomic burden of the disease and how it affects the economy and wellness of the population. To address the issue of inadequate resources, both governments should ensure health promotion initiatives have access to adequate funds and create a friendly environment that enables partners and all the stakeholders to work in concert to create effective strategies for fighting malaria. In equal measures, partnerships of the various organisations should highlight the issue of capacity building and ensure their personnel have the needed skills to enhance coordination and to make malaria-related initiatives sustainable.
The essay set out to compare malaria disease in Nigeria versus the UK. What becomes apparent in the essay is that the severity and burden of the disease seem overbearing to Nigerians owing to the sheer population, poor coordination, lack of resources, and cultural beliefs that impede any effort. However, the UK has negligible cases and they come with people who travel in malaria-prone areas. While the distribution of treated nets can come a long way in preventing malaria bites against children and pregnant women who are the most vulnerable in rural Nigeria, political will remains paramount in both countries. By and large, ending malaria is not an easy thing and any move towards this end will require concerted efforts from different players.
Comparing Malaria in Nigeria to UK
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