Cape Verde

About Malaria

Malaria, one of the world's most common and serious tropical diseases, causes at least one million deaths every year. More than half of the world's population is at risk of acquiring malaria...

Malaria in Africa

At least 300 million acute cases of malaria occur worldwide each year, resulting in more than two million deaths annually -- more than 90% of which are estimated to occur in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly among women and children under five years of age.

Global Initiative

On 25 April 2000, African leaders from 44 malaria-endemic countries participated in the first-ever African Summit on Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria. To highlight the gravity of the malaria situation on the continent, the leaders at the Summit also declared that 25 April of each year would be commemorated as Africa Malaria Day.

Cape Verde consists of a series of 10 islands that lie about 500 km off the coast of Senegal. When the Portuguese arrived in the mid-1400's the islands were uninhabitredl. They founded a settled on the island of Santiago, the largest island and one the closest to the African mainland, and in 1495 Cape Verde became a Portuguese colony. The Portuguese imported West African slaves to work on sugar and cotton plantations. The plantations proved of little success and the transit of slaves soon became the main economic activity on the islands. Cape Verde’s isolated position has contributed to its peace and stability, and the country has not experienced any internal conflicts.

The country is poor in natural resources and short on arable land and rainfall. Its economy is driven mainly by tourism and the service sector, including a growing shipping industry. Remittances from Cape Verdeans living abroad play a big role in the economy and according to the U.S State Department account for 20% of the gross domestic product.

Cape Verde has a population of 500,000 with a growth rate of 2.2%. According to the World Health Organization, there are 49 doctors for every 100,000 people, and meanwhile maternal mortality rate is 150 deaths for every 100,000 live births.

Statistics further show that the leading causes of death in children under 5 are diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, and although 80% of the population has access to improved water source, only 43% use adequate sanitation facilities. The rate is particularly low in rural areas at only 19%.

Two (2) Anopheles species have been documented in the country. They are: An. Arabiensis, An. Pretoriensis. But only An. Arabiensis is the malaria vector

Fact:

The main parasite is P. Falciparum.

Fact:

Due to its isolation, there is limited attacks and no determined transmission season.

Fact:

Cape Verde

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