The first trimester of pregnancy is a crucial period for both mother and foetus, and the need for effective, safe malaria treatment during this time cannot be overstated.
Malaria in pregnancy poses severe risks. For the mother, it can lead to anaemia, severe illness and even death. For the foetus, it increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight, all of which contribute to higher infant mortality rates.
Ensuring that pregnant women have access to safe and effective malaria treatment during the first trimester is, therefore, a public health imperative.
The challenge lies in finding a drug that is both effective against malaria and safe for the developing foetus.
Pregnant women have previously been left out of clinical trials to find suitable drugs that will be beneficial to them and their babies. A trial led by the Kenya Medical Research Institute, expected to begin next year, will bridge this gap.
Once safe treatment options are identified, it will be essential that the government and health authorities make them accessible to women.
Additionally, public health campaigns should be intensified to raise awareness among women about the importance of seeking early treatment for malaria during pregnancy and the availability of safe treatment options.
Access to proper prenatal care and safe malaria treatment during pregnancy should not be a privilege but a fundamental right.
HISTORICAL QUOTE
“We must do what we must to do.”
ELLEN G WHITE
The American religious leader and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church died on July 16, 1915.
