ABOUT US
The African Diaspora Malaria Initiative is a partnership led by the African diaspora. Africans against malaria is our new campaign to prevent malaria.
Our Mission
We are targeting members of the African community travelling between the UK and African countries with high rates of malaria. Our aim is to rid our communities of malaria.
Nigeria is the country most associated with imported malaria into the UK followed by Sierra Leone and Ghana. Malaria prevention is >90% effective when used correctly. This could prevent thousands of cases of malaria a year in the UK African diaspora.
Why It Matters
There has been a surge of malaria in Africa. Malaria makes Africans sick and is killing us. In the UK cases of imported malaria also reached a 20 year high in 2023.
Almost every minute an African child dies of Malaria.
4 out of 5 people who came back to the UK with malaria were of black African descent.
A lot of progress has been made against malaria but there is still work to be done.
Too many Africans travelling back home
forget malaria prevention. many of them get seriously sick and some even die.
Malaria is preventable and treatable. We, as Africans, are most affected and have the most to lose if we don't lead the solution to malaria in our communities. It's time for us to act.
We can stop Malaria!
Our Activities
We are developing diaspora-led solutions to malaria and providing malaria information tailored to Africans.
We want to hear about your experiences of malaria, its impact on your community and how you prevent malaria when travelling to Africa.
We want to partner with YOU and your community to raise awareness about malaria and how to prevent it.
We will provide a space for you to ask questions and get answers about malaria and signpost malaria prevention resources.
LET’S BUST SOME MYTHS ABOUT MALARIA BY FOCUSING ON THE FACTS
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There is a myth that malaria is like a bad cold. Malaria is preventable and treatable but can be deadly. Almost every minute a child in Africa dies from malaria.
Babies, children under 5, pregnant women, people with sickle cell disease, weakened immune systems or with no spleen are at higher risk of getting severe malaria or dying from it.
Malaria is a nasty illness, even if it does not kill you, it can make you feel awful and very sick
Every year thousands of people travelling back from Africa to the UK come back with malaria. Many of them end up in hospital for treatment and some die.
Malaria is no joke, it can cause your kidneys to stop working, cause bleeding problems, fits, and even a coma.
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Many people have heard the myth that being “AS” makes you immune to malaria. Sickle cell trait is most common in places like Africa where malaria is common. This trait has stuck around in these populations because it offers some protection against malaria.
If you’ve got sickle cell trait (HbAS), it means you have one abnormal haemoglobin gene from one parent and one normal haemoglobin gene from the other.
People with sickle cell trait don’t show symptoms. When someone with sickle cell trait gets bitten by a mosquito carrying malaria, they’re less likely to get seriously sick. That’s because their red blood cells make it harder for the malaria parasite to multiply.
Even so, having sickle cell trait doesn’t mean you’re totally safe from malaria. You still have to avoid getting it, because being “AS” doesn’t make you immune to malaria, it just reduces your chances of getting serious malaria.
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People with sickle cell disease have two abnormal haemoglobin genes, one from each parent. They are more likely to have severe malaria and do not have added protection against it.
Sickle cell disease stops your spleen from working well. Your spleen helps clear certain infections, so a faulty spleen increases your risk of severe infections including malaria.
Many people with sickle cell disease in Africa die because of malaria.
Malaria can trigger a sickle cell crisis.
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It is a myth that being born in Africa protects you against malaria. People born in places where malaria is common get some protection against serious illness with malaria over time, even though they can still catch malaria.
However, if they move to places where there's no malaria and stop being exposed to it, their immunity fades quickly.
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There is no long-lasting immunity if you have had malaria before.
If you've had malaria before, it doesn't mean you're immune for life. People who live in areas where malaria is common get constantly exposed to it, they do get some protection from serious illness, but they can still get infected. If you're not exposed to the parasite for a long time, that protection will be lost.
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Not all mosquitoes carry malaria, but just one bite from an infected mosquito can give you malaria
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The female mosquitoes live on after biting you to feed again and to infect other people with malaria. They also use your blood to nourish their eggs so that they can breed more mosquitoes!
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Air-conditioned rooms may lower the risk of mosquito bites because mosquitoes dislike cold and closed windows keep them out. However, AC alone cannot prevent malaria.
One bite from an infected mosquito is enough to transmit the disease. To reduce the risk, sleep under a mosquito net and spray the room with an approved insecticide before bed.
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There is a myth that you can only get malaria during rainy season.
Mosquitoes are present all year-round, but they are more active during the rainy season. Even in the dry season, they do not disappear, so the risk of malaria remains all year round
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Malaria is more common in rural and village areas, but mosquitoes carrying malaria also live in cities and in fact, malaria is moving into more cities because of changes in mosquito behaviour. Remember that it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to get malaria, so you must protect yourself even in cities
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There’s no proof that strong smells like essential oils, vitamins or foods like garlic actually keep mosquitoes away. It is best to stick to reliable ways to avoid mosquito bites such as insect repellents, bednets and covering up arms and legs
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There’s no proof that any foods or drinks can keep mosquitoes from biting you. It is best to stick to reliable ways to avoid mosquito bites such as insect repellents, bednets and covering up arms and legs.
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Travelling back home is expensive, we know, we’ve been there!
The costs of some anti-malarials can mount up if travelling for more than a few weeks or if lots of you are travelling but other antimalarials such as doxycycline or mefloquine can be quite cheap and can work out less than £20 for a 2 week trip.
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It is true that malaria is not a common infection in the UK and many doctors in the UK may not look after patients with malaria but there are national guidelines and experts in malaria in the UK.
Hospitals in areas with big African communities treat people for malaria all through the year because many people in these communities catch malaria when travelling back home and return to the UK with it.
It is really important to be diagnosed and treated early for malaria to stop it from making you sick.
Malaria is a serious risk when travelling to most of Africa but it is preventable using the ABCD method.
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Most of Africa, particularly West, Central and East Africa is high-risk for malaria. Even if you've had malaria before or grew up in Africa, your immunity will have gone after years of living in a malaria-free country like the UK. You are now at risk, just like any other traveller. You will need to protect yourself.
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No specific foods, oils, vitamins, or drinks can prevent mosquito bites. Rely on proven methods to protect yourself:
Use insect repellents designed for tropical destinations.
Wear long-sleeved clothing.
Protect your environment from mosquitoes.
Sleep under a bed net.
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You will need antimalarials. Get them from a pharmacy, travel clinic, or your GP. It is crucial to take them before, during, and after your trip as advised by a healthcare professional. Nearly 90% of UK travellers who contracted malaria abroad did not take malaria prevention medication.
Key Antimalarials for Africa
Doxycycline
Atovaquone/proguanil (available as Malarone, Maloff Protect, or generic versions)- you can get this without a prescription.
Mefloquine (Lariam)
One of these options will be suitable for you
Important Considerations for Antimalarials:
Cost: They don't have to be expensive- some options can cost as little as £20 for a two-week trip.
Start Early: Begin taking anti-malaria tablets BEFORE you travel. Some require a few days, others a week or more, to ensure protection from day one.
Consistency: Take them regularly! Do not skip doses – setting an alarm can be helpful.
Complete the Course: Finish the entire course of medication, even after you've left the malaria area. Stopping early could still lead to infection. Your healthcare provider will inform you of the correct duration.
Side Effects: Most antimalarials have little to no side effects and are generally well-tolerated.
Last-Minute Travel?
If you need to travel to Africa in a hurry, you can visit a high street pharmacy or clinic offering travel health services to obtain your medications. Some pharmacies even provide click-and-collect or same-day delivery services, ensuring you can get your medicines even with short notice!
Find a pharmacy at: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy/
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Feeling sick after returning from a malaria area? You need a same-day blood test to rule out malaria. You can call 111 or get help from 111 online:https://111.nhs.uk/
You can download a summary of how to prevent malaria here
You can also download some frequently asked questions about malaria here
key contacts
Dr Diana Ayoola Mabayoje
Consultant in Infectious Diseases
and Microbiology at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Consultant Parasitologist and Director of the UK Health Security Agency Malaria Reference Laboratory at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Professor Peter Chiodini
Pharmacist and Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics at King’s College London.
Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham
Got a Question? Want to Partner? Get in Touch.
Whether you're a traveller, funder, or community organiser. We’d love to hear from you. Use the form and we’ll get back to you soon. Please note that we cannot provide medical advice.