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Lara Emre
Mr. Rogers
Government 5
111/01/15
Malaria Tax Act
Malaria is a fatal disease that affects about 3.4 billion people who live in at risk countries
and territories (The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease). In 2013 alone Malaria caused
500,000 deaths. But despite all these devastating statistics, Malaria is a disease that can truly be
prevented and eventually eradicated. The first traces of Malaria began in Constantine, Algeria
around November 1880 when an army surgeon noticed a patient suffering symptoms from a
parasite passed from one victim to another through the bite of an infected mosquito. This was the
start of this deadly disease, soon igniting a humanitarian issue which would last for more than a
century. Malaria is currently affecting many developing countries world-wide, targeting anyone,
especially pregnant women and children with low immune systems. However different
interventions that are being put to action have saved numerous lives, 30% globally and 34% in
Africa between 2000 and 2013 (Global Health Partners Turn the Tide Against Malaria;
GlobalHealth.gov Your Health, Our World). Providing antimalarial drugs and other intervention
such as Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets can dramatically change the number of innocent people
being affected. The bill, which aims to diminish the spread of malaria outbreak in Africa by
donating 1 cents from every prescription sold from all pharmaceuticals to provide for needed
medications and supplies such as mosquito nets, should become a law because it is completely

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preventable, medications and supplies can greatly prevent Malaria outbreaks, and it can reduce
heavy social and environmental burden in developing countries such as Africa.
The fact that the disease Malaria causes such harm to global health is so devastating but
instead of focusing on the past, this bill will be focusing on the guiding the present towards
prevention and transforming the future into a healthy and safe environment. There are many
diseases out in the world that cannot fully be prevented nor eradicated, however the fact that
people living in at-risk areas can take preventable measures and actually protect themselves from
Malaria is an asset that should be highly focused on. There are many sources of evidence in
which Malaria has successfully been eradicated and history shows that Malaria was eliminated
from the United States in the early 1950s (Malaria Facts). About a century ago, Malaria was
a dominant disease across most nations including North America and Europe; through strict
prevention measures such as anti-malarial drugs as well as supplies, Europe got rid of Malaria by
the 1930s while America did so around the 1950sserving as clear proof that if the necessary
amount of effort is put in, Malaria can also be eradicated in other countries like Africa.
However, because of the changes in womens immune systems during pregnancy and the
presence of a new organ (the placenta) with new places for parasites to bind, pregnant women
lose some of their immunity to malaria infection (Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria
for Pregnant Women). By giving special attention to those who have a higher risk of infection
such as children and pregnant women, they will work to keep their immune systems strong and
healthy against the mosquitoes bearing Malaria (Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria
for Pregnant Women). Establishing the idea that Malaria is fully preventable and treatable, extra
measures can be taken through other means like medication and supplies.

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Preventative measures that can be taken to assist this bill in eradicating Malaria are
supplying people with medications, supplies such as Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets, as well as
vector control for mosquitoes in highly concentrated areas (Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets). It
has been proven that in community-wide trials in various African settings, Insecticide-Treated
Bed Nets have shown to reduce the death of children under five years from all causes by about
20%, and combing this with other measures such as insect repellent or long pants and sleeves
can combat the amount mosquitoes capable of entering the body (Insecticide-Treated Bed
Nets). IPTp entails administration of a curative dose of an effective antimalarial drug
(currently sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) to all pregnant women whether or not they are infected
with the malaria parasite. IPTp should be given at each routine antenatal care visit, starting in the
second trimester (Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria for Pregnant Women).
Although there are many other types of anti-malarial drugs, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is one of
the more effective drugs in combating Malaria which is given to pregnant women to boost their
immune system and immunity towards bites from mosquitoes (Intermittent Preventive
Treatment of Malaria for Pregnant Women). Mali has demonstrated significant progress in
scaling up malaria prevention and control interventions, especially in vector control. Results
from the 20122013 DHS indicate a nearly 50 percent reduction of under-five mortality rates
from 2006 to 2012 (PMI, Presidents Malaria Initiative, Fighting Malaria and Saving Lives).
Mali, being one of the poorest countries in the world, is a prime example of how successful one
can diminish Malaria through providing at least one ITN to one household, using vector control
for mosquitoes, and providing pregnant women two or more doses of intermittent preventive
treatment for pregnant women (IPTp) during their last pregnancy in the last two years (PMI,
Presidents Malaria Initiative, Fighting Malaria and Saving Lives). Through the uses of both

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anti-malarial drugs and Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets, as well as vector control for mosquitoes,
Malaria can be diminished and even some social and environmental issues can be resolved.
Malaria not only affects individual people but also affects the infected areas social,
economic and environmental factors. The costs people have to pay in order to receive treatment
or supplies provides deep economic trouble for the town, as well as other reasons.
Unlike the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or tuberculosis, infection with the malaria parasite is
almost always universal in a population, and the presence of the pathogen is not a
sufficient marker of disease. Individuals who die from malaria represent the
public health costs of developing immunity at a population level. These deaths are
concentrated among those with poorly developed immunity, and, generally, young
children bear the brunt of the mortality burden (Snow, Omumbo Ch. 14).
Unlike other types of diseases, Malaria reflects the communitys well-being, and most infections
and deaths are concentrated in certain areas, therefore creating a social and economic burden for
those living there who have to pay and care for those who need to be treated (Snow, Omumbo
Ch. 14).
Anopheline mosquitoes are cold-blooded, which means their body temperature
and their ability to nurture the Plasmodium parasite is affected by the temperature
of their surroundings. With increasing temperatures due to global climate change,
most new areas where there is a potential risk for malaria transmission will be
temperate regions where lower temperatures presently limit the mosquito
populations and the parasite's ability to develop in them (About Malaria).

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Due to global warming and climate change, some areas of the world are getting warmer and
through research it has been found that the mosquitoes that carry Malaria thrive in warm
climates, and as temperatures increase, the world will have to carry environmental burdens
regarding increasing numbers of Malaria outbreaks (Malaria Symptoms, Treatment and
Preention). Despite all of these desperate calls for help, some people still believe that America
should take no action towards the eradication of Malaria because to them it seems too hard.
Many people believe that America shouldnt attempt to eradicate Malaria in Africa
because it is impossible to know which mosquito carries Malaria, and it is too hard to target
specific areas that are susceptible to Malaria outbreaks. People always have doubts about
preventative measures such as this bill, however there are many sources of evidence that can
refute these claims. Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. There are 5 species of
Plasmodium which infect humans: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium
malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi which is less common. Of these,
Plasmodium falciparum infection is the most severe and can cause death in up to 10% of cases. It
can be rapidly fatal. Pregnant women and children are especially at risk (Malaria Symptoms,
Treatments and Prevention). The mosquito Plasmodium falciparum is the most common and
severe type and therefore refutes the claim that it is impossible to know which mosquitoes carry
Malaria (Malaria-Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention). About 40% of malaria deaths occur
in just two countries: Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (World Malaria Day
2015). This statistic shows that Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are where
many concentrated areas of Malaria outbreaks are and is the place where preventative measures
should highly focus on; therefore it is not impossible to target special areas (World Malaria Day

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2015). All in all, Malaria is a deadly disease that needs to have preventative measures taken
upon it in order to decrease outbreaks and death.
If passed, the bill will strictly focus on eradicating Malaria because it is completely
preventable, medications and supplies can greatly prevent Malaria outbreaks, and it can reduce
heavy social and environmental burden in developing countries such as Africa. Hopefully, this
bill will soon eradicate not only the outbreaks in Africa but also the outbreaks globally creating a
healthier world. Anyone can take part in this mission, so volunteer, or donate to organizations
such as UNICEF to help provide supplies and medications to end Malaria for once and for all.

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Works Cited
"About Malaria." John Hopkins Malaria Research Institution, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://malaria.jhsph.edu/about_malaria/>.
"Global Health Partners Turn the Tide Against Malaria." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Oct.
2015.
"GlobalHealth.gov Your Health, Our World." Malaria. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
"The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/history/>.
"Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/reduction/itn.html>.
"Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria for Pregnant Women (IPTp)." Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 24 Sept.
2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/reduction/iptp.html>.
"Malaria Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 04 Mar. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/facts.html>.
"Malaria - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention." N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/hea
lth+topics/health+conditions+prevention+and+treatment/infectious+diseases/malaria>.
"PMI, President's Malaria Initiative, Fighting Malaria and Saving Lives." Country in Focus. N.p.,

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n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.pmi.gov/where-we-work/country-in-focus/mali>.

Snow, Robert W. Malaria. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2286/>.
"World Malaria Day 2015." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.gov.za/world-malariaday-2015>.