KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, speaks out about dengue
Burkina Faso’s health ministry confirmed that one of the deadliest dengue fever epidemics yet has been impacting the country over the past few weeks. Since the start of the year, the country has recorded more than 51,000 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths of the mosquito-borne illness. The number of cases and case fatality rates are rising sharply.
On Friday, October 20, 2023, KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, reached out to the Deputy Director of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa who confirmed that the situation is worrisome because there has been a significant increase in dengue outbreaks in many countries in Africa over the past few years. WHO and other regional health institutions are deeply concerned that it will continue to spread as warmer temperatures create conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the virus to thrive.
Dengue fever is mainly spread by the bite of infected A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes
Symptoms of dengue infection include fever, muscle pain, nausea and rashes. Lack of treatment or misdiagnosis, common in low income countries such as Burkina Faso where health care availability is spotty, increase the chances of death. There is currently no registered vaccine for protection from dengue or specific treatment for the disease in Burkina Faso.
KAFO and MSN are planning the following actions to address current and future dengue epidemics in Konkourona:
- Training of health workers to increase knowledge about the symptoms of dengue, similarities with malaria, and differences in treatment of patients
- Providing community awareness about the need for early diagnosis and treatment
- Ensuring availability of essential medicines such as paracetamol and intravenous volume replacement fluids (glucose, saline, ringer-lactate) to treat symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever and prevent dengue shock syndrome
- Supporting community efforts to reduce the spread of mosquitoes
- Construction of a diagnostic laboratory at the Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center in Konkourona
The community is very thankful to KAFO supporters for helping to provide access to healthcare in Konkourona. KAFO and MSN are committed to doing what is needed to save as many lives as possible.