Malaria disease which is caused by parasites that are transmitted via mosquito bites, remains a health burden in many parts of the world. For parents, making their environment safe from malaria is essential for their family. Multiple public health interventions including treatment for malaria are employed, however, preventing the disease might look like many practical things that parents need to do if they intend to create an environment free from malaria. In this article, we are providing a guide on how to live in a malaria-free environment at home.
Understanding Malaria and Its Transmission
Let’s first take a look at how malaria is transmitted: the disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite which is carried and passed on to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito from the Anopheles species. Anopheles mosquitoes are most active in the evening and at night. These are the hours when prevention is of utmost importance.
1. Use Insecticide-Treated Nets
Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are one of the most effective means of malaria prevention. ITNs are nets impregnated with insecticides repelling or killing mosquitoes. These vaguely vegetable-flavored nets serve as an excellent barricade for anyone unlucky enough to have been born with no resistance to malarial plasmodia. Here’s how to use ITNs:
- How to hang the net correctly over your beds so that the sides of your net cover your entire bed. How to tuck the custom netting under your mattress so that mosquitoes cannot enter the bed.
- Periodic Maintenance: Check the net occasionally for holes or tears; patch quickly. Replace every few years or as specified by the manufacturer.
- Staff Your System: Make sure everyone in your household understands the importance of using the net regularly, particularly children who might need to be reminded.
2. Use Mosquito Repellents
In addition to mosquito nets, there are also a range of methods to keep mosquitoes away using a repellent ingredient applied to the skin, especially clothing or surfaces. Tips for using Mosquito products include the following:
- Right Product Also consider picking the right product: those containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus have been shown to work.
- Directions: Apply repellent as directed on the label, and reapply as needed, especially if sweating or swimming.
- Avoid Overuse: Use repellents sparingly and avoid applying them to broken or irritated skin.
3. Install Window and Door Screens
- Many mosquitoes enter homes through open windows and doors. The number of mosquitoes will be reduced in your house if you keep the screen on the open line where we enter our buildings.
- Here you can see how to keep the screen effective.
- Opt for fine mesh: Use fine window screens to ensure even small mosquitoes can’t get in.
- Regular Cleaning: Clean screens regularly to prevent debris from collecting and creating gaps.
- Check for Gaps: Inspect screens for holes or tears and repair them promptly.
4. Eliminate Standing Water
Malarial mosquitoes breed in stagnant water: eliminate standing water around your home. You should:
- Empty Containers: Empty buckets, flower pots, bird baths, and other containers that can hold water.
- Keep Gutters Clean: Keep the gutters clean so that they do not clog and allow stagnant water to collect.
- Apply larvicides: In areas where standing water cannot be eliminated, larvicides, target and kill larvae.
5. Maintain a Clean and Dry Environment
This is why a clean and dry environment works against mosquitoes, as breeding sites are less abundant. Keep your home mosquito-free by following these steps:
- Regular Cleaning: Keep your home clean and free of clutter where mosquitoes might hide.
- Reduce Humidity: ‘If you live in a humid environment, like a high-humidity basement or a bathroom that is prone to dampness, use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels and discourage mosquitoes from laying their eggs on your skin.’
6. Educate Your Family
Education helps to avoid malaria. Keep all your family members and children educated about the prevention and protective measures for malaria. Here are some ways to educate your family.
- Discuss Prevention Strategies: Have regular discussions about malaria prevention strategies and their importance.
- Model Application: Demonstrate how to use repellent, hang nets, and check for standing water.
- Be a Role Model: Consistently practice malaria prevention yourself, to show your family what they must do.
7. Seek Medical Advice
If you or a family member experience any of the symptoms after a recent trip to an area with a risk for malaria, such as fever, chills, or flu-like illness, contact your medical professional for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Thus, recognizing the signs of malaria and seeking medical attention promptly is the best line of defense against this potentially lethal disease.
8. Stay Informed About Local Risks
Risk varies by location. Check the malaria risk for your area. If you live in or travel to areas of higher risk, look for current risk information from your local health department or other local organization.
At the level of the home, you can make your environment malaria-free by taking some simple steps and observing developing trends. By sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net (especially for adults and children above five years), applying mosquito repellents, covering your beds with mosquito-proof nets, screening your windows with insect screens, removing dead leaves and other debris at home, and removing stagnant water in and around your home site, you are already reducing the risk of the disease. Briefing your family about the risk of malaria and the measures to prevent it is also important. Further, you should consider seeking medical attention promptly if fever develops, especially if you have traveled to a malaria-endemic area. When your family has neither symptoms nor travel history, these steps will create a malaria-free environment. By doing so, you are also contributing to the global fight against the malaria epidemic.
