HCJB Global Hands continues to battle malaria in tropical areas of Ecuador even as the first World Malaria Day is held today (Friday, April 25).

"We take regular trips to jungle communities where malaria is common to diagnose and treat," said Dr. Mark Nelson, a missionary physician serving at HCJB Global Hands' Hospital Vozandes-Shell, perched on the edge of the Amazon basin.

"We have been doing this since 2005 in conjunction with indigenous pastors. Often we enter communities that would not have otherwise welcomed the presence of the indigenous pastors or evangelists, but they are open to having a medical presence and treatment for malaria. So this has opened doors to share the gospel.

"Since 2005 staff members have visited at least 24 Shuar and Achuar communities in Ecuador in this manner," he added. "The indigenous pastors go along as translators and cultural liaisons and then are able to meet individually with people to share Christ or hold services, depending on the community."

Malaria in Ecuador is most common in coastal areas and in the Amazon rain forest. "Malaria was epidemic along the jungle border with Peru from 2003 to 2005," Nelson said. By treating victims, promoting the spraying of insecticides, providing education and distributing medicines and mosquito nets, malaria rates in the worst-hit areas declined in 2006 and 2007.

Malaria, characterized by fever and bone-breaking chills, is spread by the anopheles mosquito, Nelson related. "There are four types of malaria worldwide. Of these, only one -- falciparum -- is commonly fatal. Falciparum was indeed the type found along the Ecuador-Peru border."

The disease continues to be a threat in tropical areas of Ecuador where the mosquitoes breed. "Generally speaking, it isn't hard to treat, but falciparum can be resistant to common drugs," he continued. "Once falciparum is advanced, it can kill despite treatment."

Eliminating the anopheles mosquito would squelch the disease, but this is a tall order. "It's impossible to eliminate the mosquitoes completely, although spraying houses can have a temporary effect," he said, adding that some people fail to take preventive measures such as taking anti-malarial medicine.

World Malaria Day was established to help build awareness of this potentially devastating disease that is preventable but causes more than 1 million deaths worldwide each year-mostly among young children in Africa.

The event's theme, "A Disease Without Borders," reminds people worldwide that malaria also affects other parts of the globe, including Asia, Central and South America and Oceania, reported the reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although malaria was eliminated from the U.S. by 1951, about 1,400 American travelers contract malaria overseas each year, resulting in an average of seven deaths.

In recent years many groups worldwide such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the World Bank, Roll Back Malaria, UNICEF and the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) have stepped up efforts and joined together to scale up the use of lifesaving interventions, especially in Africa.

PMI, created in June 2005 to cut malaria deaths in half in 15 African countries, has already reached millions with lifesaving prevention and treatment services, reported the CDC.

Early results of the initiative have been seen with the first data coming from the East African country of Tanzania -- especially on the islands of Zanzibar which saw a 90-percent decline in malaria infections among children under the age of 2 by August 2007.

U.S. Senator John McCain issued a statement today pledging to "end malaria in Africa" if elected president. "The United States has honored its proud history of global service by being a leader in the fight against malaria," he said.

"At present, the federal government is on track to commit $1 billion each year," he said in the statement. "But America is more than its government. I call upon the private sector to meet its obligation to serve a cause greater than its self-interest by matching the federal commitment dollar for dollar. Meeting this goal will achieve a level of funding that will rapidly roll back the dreadful impact of malaria on the global community."

Sources: HCJB Global, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Standard Newswire