Fighting deadly diseases action medeor

Malaria: A deadly threat

Malaria, a disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, often leads to death, especially in regions with a weak healthcare system. This is mainly due to the fact that the symptoms can initially resemble a simple cold, meaning that an infection is often not recognized quickly enough. Even in the event of a timely diagnosis, there is often a lack of the appropriate preparations and medication to treat the infection. Malaria is particularly dangerous for children under the age of five. However, malaria is generally easily treatable.

HIV/AIDS: Progress and challenges

HIV/AIDS remains one of the most serious global health crises, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last 20 years, the spread of the virus has decreased considerably thanks to preventive measures and improved education. This progress is largely due to access to antiretroviral therapies that keep the virus under control and improve the quality of life of those affected. Nevertheless, around 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and in many disadvantaged regions access to medication and education remains limited.

Ebola: A highly dangerous viral infection

Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus, led to an outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 in which over 11,000 people died. Smaller outbreaks are currently occurring again and again, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the health infrastructure is under severe strain. Despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, combating the disease remains difficult due to logistical and infrastructural challenges.

COVID-19: Global inequalities in healthcare

COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of many healthcare systems around the world. The virus posed a major challenge, particularly in regions with weak healthcare systems: Protective measures were difficult to implement due to a lack of equipment and sufficient hygiene facilities, such as clean water. There was also a lack of testing capacity, intensive care beds and medical equipment to treat those infected.

Tropical diseases: Dengue and Chagas on the rise

Tropical diseases such as dengue fever and Chagas disease have also increased over the last two decades. Dengue, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, is present in many countries with 390 million infections annually, while Chagas, spread by predatory bugs, threatens millions of people.

action medeor in the fight against deadly diseases

The danger of these and many other diseases lies primarily in their rapid spread, the often high mortality rate and the long-term health consequences if they remain untreated. People in regions with weak healthcare systems are particularly affected. How action medeor helps in the fight against deadly diseases: 

• Education: Awareness campaigns are used to educate people in the affected regions about how they can protect themselves from disease. In malaria areas, mosquito nets, long clothing and insect repellent sprays are essential, while people can protect themselves from coronavirus infection primarily through hygiene measures and physical distancing from infected people.
• Protective measures: action medeor is equipping hospitals and people in the affected regions with urgently needed protective materials: For example, mosquito nets to protect against the Anopheles mosquito as well as hand-washing facilities, face masks and disinfectant sprays to protect against corona infection. After the Ebola outbreak in 2014, action medeor set up an isolation ward in Liberia, which was particularly hard hit, to contain the spread of the virus. Local health workers also received training to strengthen infection control measures.
• Diagnosis options:  In the DR Congo, action medeor worked with a local partner to set up HIV counseling and testing centers as well as mobile testing units to provide people in remote regions with HIV tests.
• Treatment: action medeor supplies hospitals and small health posts with medical supplies to prevent infections from becoming fatal: for example, medicines and combination products to treat malaria infections or oxygen concentrators to stabilize moderate cases of coronavirus. Over the years, action medeor has worked to combat HIV/AIDS by providing free treatment to infected people, which also prevents the virus from being transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.
• Strengthening healthcare systems: One focus of action medeor's work is to fundamentally strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in disadvantaged regions. Health facilities are set up, equipped with important materials and staff are trained and educated so that people in remote regions also have the opportunity to receive medical diagnosis and treatment in the event of illness.