The Devastating Impact of Malaria

Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, is responsible for over 700,000 deaths annually, with pregnant women and children in Africa being the most affected. The disease has a long history, infecting notable figures throughout time. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, eradication has been elusive due to drug resistance and the complexity of the malaria parasite's life cycle. Dr. Iffi Aniebo from Nigeria and Dr. Mehreen Dattu from the University of Oxford are at the forefront of the fight against malaria, with Dr. Dattu being part of the team that developed a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. Challenges in malaria research and intervention include the need for better infrastructure and community engagement against vaccine hesitancy.