Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSMalaria awareness resource launched as cases increase
British holiday makers are being urged to take malaria prevention seriously as the latest figures from the HPA indicate an increase in reported cases of the disease.
The figures from the HPA indicate a 9% increase in the number of cases of the disease reported in UK travellers between 2008 and 2009.
Professor Larry Goodyer, chair of the education subcommittee of the BTHA and a spokesperson for the Malaria Awareness Campaign says: “The UK is one of the biggest importers of malaria in Europe and these figures highlight the need for British travellers to be aware of the simple steps they need to take to protect themselves.”
To coincide with Malaria Awareness Week (10–16 May) the Malaria Awareness Campaign, organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health, has launched an initiative with naturalist Steve Backshall to show people how to correctly apply insect repellent and prevent mosquito bites – the first line of defence in malaria prevention.
Steve, who has contracted malaria, is urging everyone to be more ‘malaria aware’. He says: “It’s easy to relax and take a carefree attitude when you’re on holiday, but it is extremely important to take malaria prevention seriously. It only takes one bite to contract malaria and I know from personal experience how terrible the disease can be.”
Professor Goodyer says: “Many people are unaware of the correct quantity of insect repellent to use or how to apply it correctly. I’d advise all UK travellers to give Steve’s how-to film a couple of minutes of their attention as it could save their life.”
Online training units, written and reviewed by experts. Earn two hours' CPD and a personalised certificate for your portfolio.
Subscribers get five FREE learning units and non-subscribers can access each learning unit for £10 + VAT.
Share
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.