Venezuela: illegal mining and the resurgence of malaria Gold mining in the Amazon is not only bad for the environment, stagnant water is propagating malaria-carrying mosquitoes gold mining malaria Stagnant water left by gold mining creates the perfect conditions for malaria to reappear and spread. Photograph: Susan Schulman/Getty Images Camila Nobrega in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday 2 December 2014 10.40 GMT Shares 103 Comments 18 Not only does gold and diamond mining have a harmful environmental impact in the Amazon, but the rise in small-scale, illegal mining activities is causing a resurgence of malaria in Venezuela, which used to be a world leader in managing the disease. In 2013, 76,621 cases (pdf) of malaria were reported in Venezuela, the majority among men aged between 15 and 44 years old, and with 93% of cases (pdf) occuring in the state of Bolivar where gold mining is booming. Estimates suggest that the number of cases will only continue to rise. Both legal and illegal mining create the perfect conditions for malaria to resurface and spread. “There is a large number of miners drilling holes in search of minerals. These holes with stagnant water are breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” says Jo Lines, a reader of malaria control and vector biology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. But cases of malaria are much harder to control among those working illegally, adds Lines. “The majority of self-employed miners are mobile [increasing the risk of imported malaria infections], and they are often reluctant to present themselves to official medical facilities due to immigration and work permit issues. They often live in cheap, crowded places without walls, where it is not easy to hang a bednet.” In 1961, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared malaria eradicated from 68% of Venezuela’s malaria zone. In the last 50 years, however, much of the country’s resources have been dedicated to reducing poverty (pdf), meaning that environmental and social controls have been neglected in some regions. “Venezuela has had approved environmental regulations since 1999, but they are not being met,” says Jose Felix Oletta, a former health minister and director of Red Defendamos la Epidemiologia. The high price of gold and the stamp down on illegal mining in other Latin American countries, has driven illegal mining activities into Venezuela. Advertisement Oletta warns that the situation will only deteriorate, especially given the recent merging of the ministries for environment and housing, announced by President Nicolas Maduro in September. While the ministry of health tries to combat malaria by distributing mosquito nets and treatment, NGOs seek to target the root causes of the disease’s resurgence. One of the most recognised initiatives is the Wesoichay Project created by the Venezuelan Association for the Conservation of Natural Areas (Acoana), which researched the relationship between malaria and mining. The research shows that limited job opportunities, poor access to education and little involvement of indigenous people in public policy led to more illegal mining. As well as interventions such as the mosquito nets, early diagnosis and treatment, Wesoichay emphasises other solutions to the recent spike in malaria cases: valuing Amazonian land, biodiversity and culture, and strengthening the participation of local people in disease surveillance. “We are giving training grants to members of indigenous communities to develop technical skills,” said Maria Pia Bevilacqua, president of Acoana and coordinator of the Wesoichay Project. “This helps them to get jobs as teachers, nurses, microscopists and vaccinators.” The scholarships can last from three months to a year and Bevilacqua says they will help to tackle the disease, but the only way to really reduce malaria in the region is to stop illegal mining. Prevention and awareness are the challenges that Venezuela faces in the fight against malaria. Civil society understand this and are acting on it, but real change requires political action. If nothing happens, tourism in the beautiful Amazon region might even be affected. Let’s hope politicians don’t wait for that to make eradicating malaria a priority. Read more stories like this: • Eradicating malaria: how parasites’ genetic ‘barcodes’ could stop the spread • Leprosy: what are the final steps to elimination? • Do you want my job? The tropical health researcher • Advertisement feature: 5 ways infectious diseases and poverty are linked __._,_.___
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 21:38:25 +0000
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