[ad_1]
ANTSIRANANA, Madagascar – Frangeline is 2 years old but does not weigh more than 4 months – the terrible result of her fight against measles, which devastated Madagascar.
The widespread malnutrition and low vaccination rates on the Indian Ocean island have increased the lethal potency of the highly infectious virus.
In the last six months, nearly 1,000 children have been killed by a resurgent illness that vaccination seemed to have tamed.
Now on a drip point, the tiny child was saved only because his mother, 32-year-old Soa Robertine, made the 25-kilometer drive from her home to the health center. Anivorano-North, in the far north of the island.
Without this rapid intervention, respiratory or neurological complications related to the virus would have been fatal, said doctors.
"Frangeline suffers from severe malnutrition and she has not been vaccinated" against measles, "said Holland Robisoa, head of the clinic's drugs.
"She contracted a complicated form of measles and she would have died if she had not been brought here."
Many other kids have not been so lucky.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 79,000 measles cases were reported in Madagascar between September and February, of which 926 were fatal.
The Anivorano-North clinic had 510 patients suffering from "kitrotro" and "kisaosy" – the local names of measles.
About 100 patients were hospitalized but only four died, according to official statistics.
But many local people dispute the numbers in a community where rumors are common.
"I have heard that hundreds of children were already dead," said Sylvain Randriamaro, 46, sitting in the hospital waiting room.
"I was alarmed and so I decided to vaccinate my two children," he said.
Measles hit Madagascar barely a year after a plague epidemic that claimed the lives of 200 people.
"It's a major epidemic," said Dr. Vincent Sodjinou, a representative of WHO.
"This is because for nearly a decade, the vaccination coverage rate was not high enough and, from generation to generation, the number of unvaccinated people has increased."
& # 39; MALNUTRITION A BED FOR RED & # 39;
Measles can be relatively mild if symptoms such as fever and cough are treated quickly.
If not, there is a risk of "opportunistic" illness such as pneumonia or diarrhea – diseases that can be fatal for patients with compromised immune systems.
In Madagascar, where 47% of children under 5 are malnourished, the disease has been particularly dangerous.
"It is often said that malnutrition is a bed for measles," said Sodjinou. "The most serious cases are often reported in children suffering from malnutrition."
The pediatric ward of the Antsiranana Military Hospital, north of Anivorano, was submerged.
"Normally, we only treat one case of measles here every two months," said Ravohavy Setriny Mahatsangy, head of medicine. "We had 444 just since December."
Mahatsangy blamed physical contact between patients, their "reluctance to go to hospital and their opposition to vaccination".
The combination of factors had a tragic impact on his patients.
Marie Lydia Zafisoa, eight years old, is an example. Her mother took her to a sorcerer … then to a traditional healer who prescribed six baths, according to her aunt Bana Tombo.
When that failed, Zafisoa's father took her to the clinic.
"It was too late, she died on the way, on the shoulders of her father," Tombo said.
Adriano Luc Rakototsioharana, seven months old, was luckier.
His grandmother Catherine was also turned to traditional medicine before taking her to the hospital.
She has barely survived this ordeal – but even so, Catherine remains convinced that traditional medicine is the key.
"For measles, you need an infusion of cow dung or tea with lazalaza bark," she said.
& # 39; C & # 39; IS CULTURE & # 39;
Doctors say that such beliefs hinder their efforts to roll back the disease.
"It's culture," said Ravohavy, with a resigned smile.
"Changing the mentality is much more difficult than treating measles."
The profession is also complaining of the worsening of the situation despite the fact that the state pays for most measles treatments.
"But people prefer traditional healers who often advise them to refuse hospitalization," said a health ministry official, Dr. Said Borohany.
"And most villages are at hours of basic medical centers."
The other viable option, vaccination, has been complicated by the lack of funds available for such a program.
So far, the country's immunization program has only administered a single dose when the WHO recommends it. 2
The UN agency estimates that it would take 5.6 million doses to contain the outbreak.
But Madagascar lacks 1.6 million dollars (1.42 million euros) of the $ 11.2 million needed to finance such an operation.
The newly elected president, Andry Rajoelina, has promised to vaccinate all children aged six months to nine years.
"Our goal is to eradicate measles," he said.
But the fight will be long and difficult.
"Madagascar has put in place a routine immunization program," said WHO envoy, Sodjinou. "But it remains insufficient to reach the borders of the country."
[ad_2]
Source link