Introduction

You have now learned how the malaria parasite is transmitted, the life cycle of the parasite, the symptoms and signs of the disease and the diagnosis of malaria. The objective of this study session is to give you the required knowledge and skills to provide effective and prompt treatment for malaria cases. You are going to learn:

• How to treat uncomplicated (non-severe) malaria in adults, in children and pregnant mothers.
• The pre-referral treatment of severe malaria cases.
• How to educate people about the benefits of early treatment of cases and adherence to the treatment course.

This study session will describe the procedures of malaria treatment, the anti-malaria medicines used under different situations, and the procedure of providing pre-referral care to patients that cannot be managed at your Health Post level. Providing early and effective treatment is one of the most important interventions of any malaria control programme. In fact, the most important indicator used to measure the success of malaria interventions is the proportion of people with malaria getting anti-malaria treatment within 24 hours after the onset of fever.

Unlike many communicable diseases, malaria is an acute infection that requires immediate attention after the onset of symptoms. The disease can quickly progress to a severe form, and death can occur within 48 hours of the onset of signs and symptoms. As a Health Extension Practitioner deployed within a village, you are the most important person, and probably the only person, who can provide early and effective treatment for malaria cases, within 24 hours. This is probably one of the most satisfying parts of your job because it is directly linked to saving lives.