Despite significant progress in the fight against malaria since 2000, as of last year nearly half the world’s population was at risk of contracting the disease.
And in Angola, a recent outbreak has shown that eliminating it remains elusive.
“We have a really basic need for improving health infrastructure here,” says Amiralis Machado, Community Relations Advisor at ExxonMobil in Angola, where, between January and March of 2018, a total of 700,000 confirmed cases were reported and 2,000 of those cases were fatal.
In some areas, necessary infrastructure does not yet exist. It’s estimated that only 45 percent of Angola’s population has access to public health facilities. This gap is particularly pronounced in the country’s eastern provinces, where residents must travel great distances to access the nearest clinic – making treatment a challenge and prevention a priority.
“The fight against malaria in Angola requires the coordination of many stakeholders,” says Machado. “That’s why we are focused on bringing together both public and private sector partners to leverage each one’s resources for the greatest impact.”
ExxonMobil’s NGO partners are emphasizing the role of community health workers in face-to-face interactions, a practice that has a significant effect. In Angola, where geography and access to prevention resources vary significantly from region to region, personalized conversations can impact the lives of thousands.
In honor of World Malaria Day, take a look below to learn more about ExxonMobil’s ongoing work in the fight against malaria.
Header image credit: Medicines for Malaria Venture