Today is World Malaria Day. With more than 200 million cases of malaria and close to half a million deaths across the world in 2016, malaria remains one of the world’s worst infectious diseases. Africa still shoulders the biggest burden in the world - 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths occur on the continent.
There have been impressive gains since 2000 with malaria deaths falling by more than 60%. But Willis Simon Akhwale explains that Africa has unfinished business before it’s able to end malaria for good. And even though South Africa is very close to elimination, Maureen Coetzee, Lizette Koekemoer and Basil Brooke set out
why this goal won’t be achieved until a solution is found to deal with vectors that bite and breed outside. And you can read our earlier articles here.
Meanwhile, the re-use of millions of bed nets distributed across Africa has been a major source of tension. Lydiah Kibe explains why policy makers should embrace the fact that old bed nets are put to multiple uses.
South Africa is currently gripped by a debate about “white monopoly capital.” Mohammad Amir Anwar unpacks the concept, arguing that it’s wrong for some to posit that the country doesn’t face a major challenge when it comes to ownership patterns.
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A young girl with malaria rests in the inpatient ward of a health centre in the South Sudan.
Reuters/Adriane Ohanesian
Willis Simon Akhwale, University of Washington
Eliminating malaria in Africa has been held back by a range of factors, including a lack of funds and drug and insecticide resistance challenges.
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Science + Technology
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Maureen Coetzee, University of the Witwatersrand; Basil Brooke, University of the Witwatersrand; Lizette Koekemoer, University of the Witwatersrand
Malaria in South Africa is close to being eliminated but to complicate matters scientists have identified a second mosquito transmitting the disease.
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Health + Medicine
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Lydiah Kibe, Kenya Medical Research Institute
Mosquitoes are controlled by insecticide treated nets to curb the spread of Malaria. The nets which are hung over beds can be reused after serving its purpose.
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Business + Economy
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Mohammad Amir Anwar, University of Oxford
Despite a growing chorus of deniers, white monopoly capital continues to be a South African reality that shapes the country's political, economic and social life.
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Arts + Culture
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Lesley Lokko, University of Johannesburg
Accra and Johannesburg have some way to go before making it onto anyone's top 20. Both cities have a desperate gap between rich and poor but inequality is not a uniquely African problem.
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From our international editions
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Paul Smith, University of Nottingham
After a historic battle, we now know that one of two people will be the next president of France.
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Alice Roberts, University of Birmingham
New research on Indonesian fossils reveals clues to an ancient expansion out of Africa.
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