Shortfalls in rolling back malaria in Papua New Guinean children

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With over 1.7 million annual malaria cases, Papua New Guinea faces one of the highest infection pressures globally, particularly among children under five, who suffer from severe tropical malaria caused by plasmodium falciparum. Despite the introduction of modern medicines and revised treatment policies, there has been no significant decline in disease burden or infection rates in this vulnerable age group. This work investigates the reasons behind the ongoing struggle to protect Papua New Guinean children from malaria. It details two interventions aimed at translating international guidelines into local policies, examining drug deployment in rural areas and its impact on children. The author reflects on survey results that reveal increasing treatment failures, causing distress among parents and health workers. Practical recommendations are provided to address the crisis. Dr. Andreas Schultz, a medical doctor with expertise in pediatrics and tropical medicine, conducted this independent research at the Braun Memorial Hospital in Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, with support from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. His work focuses on the exposure of children aged 0-5 to malaria and the challenges of implementing international treatment guidelines at the district level.