Cuba battling to eradicate malaria
 in Africa

Oscar Bravo Fong

LUANDA (PL).—As is the case with Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Cuba is collaborating with Angola in combating vectors such as mosquitoes, the carriers of malaria and dengue, among other diseases.

Work underway in combating malaria in Africa, which includes the construction of biolarvicide factories in the region, is becoming increasingly important, given that thousands of people die every year from vector transmitted diseases which can be avoided.

Malaria particularly affects children under five years of age and pregnant women, many of whom are living in poor communities.

This panorama is compounded by the fact that that, from the economic point of view, malaria provokes enormous losses on the continent, with a considerable reduction in labor productivity.

To get some idea of the impact of malaria, suffice it to say that 13% of all deaths in Ghana, West Africa, are from this disease, according to health authorities.

The eradication of mosquito breeding areas, and with that malaria, one of the principal causes of death in Angola, is the central undertaking of the 145 Cuban collaborators working in this Southern African country.

During a tour of the extensive municipal capital of Viana, one of the most highly populated in the country, Prensa Latina noted the results of work underway since 2009 in isolated communities by cooperative staff from the Cuban Labiofam Group and Angolan brigadistas.

The Cuban collaborators and Angolans are working constantly on eradicating mosquitoes, mice and other disease vectors, as Angolan Elsa de Palma Mendes, municipal director of Health in Viana, with approximately two million inhabitants, told this news agency.

"We are very happy with the work carried out to control diseases such as malaria, which first includes a mapping of the area to detect insect breeding locations and the training of health technicians in laboratory and clinical work," she affirmed.

"Here in Viana, three of us Cuban collaborators are working as advisors alongside a brigade of local fumigators, work much appreciated by the population given the health benefits reported," specialist Alejandro Figueredo stated in the Madera neighborhood.

"The eradication of mosquito breeding grounds is helped by the effectiveness of biological products such as Bactivec and Griselef.

"These products, which are biodegradable and do not contaminate the environment, are used in established breeding grounds such as irrigation channels, homes and other locations," noted Figueredo, a veterinary doctor.

In a brief recess from their fumigation, Angolan brigadistas Justino José, Anacleto Banda and Joan Cumprido affirmed that for them, the work has great significance, in that it is already contributing to saving human lives.

"Given the efforts to help prevent diseases such as malaria and dengue, those of us living here decided to cooperate in collecting garbage and eliminating water leaks," said Madera resident Virginia de Nascimento.

Gretel Raspall Gómez and Dunia Lamothe, director of the anti-vector project in Angola and technical director of the program, respectively, agreed that efforts are promoting a reduction in cases of malaria and deaths from this disease.

Their statement is corroborated by the Ministry of Health in Angola, which recently published figures revealing that prior to the program, approximately 20,000 persons died every year from malaria, and that figure has now fallen to less than 5,000.

Both specialists emphasized that the Labiofam project is advancing successfully given actions such as training personnel and community agents and giving educational talks on maintaining a healthy environment.

José Antonio Fraga Castro, director of the Cuban Labiofam group, reaffirmed that the anti-malaria program, initiated four years ago in Angola, has had notable results, given that infant and maternal mortality rates have fallen.

This achievement, associated with increased access to Cuban medical services, despite difficult working conditions, is acknowledged by the population and Angolan authorities, the Labiofam director noted after the tour.

Labiofam could develop dietary supplements, agricultural products, biofertilizers and biopesticides in the country, said Dr. Fraga Castro, who was received by Agriculture and Development Minister Afonso Pedro Canga,

He emphasized the increasing impact in Africa of the cooperation of specialists with Labiofam, a group which, with a staff of 5,600-plus, is diversifying its products.

In this context, he affirmed that after the recent signing of a cooperation agreement with health authorities in Gabon for the promotion of a malaria control program, Labiofam is to send a brigade of 18 collaborative workers in October to that country.

The director also announced that a factory, constructed with Cuban aid, for the production of biolarvicides and biofertilizers is to open in Tanzania this December 9, to meet Tanzanian needs and export to other African nations.

Referring to the multiple actions being promoted by Labiofam, Fraga Castro stated that during an upcoming visit to Ecuador, the group is to sign a contract with this country for the construction of a bioproducts plant, among other projects.