The Relationship Between Human Development Index

and The Rate of Malaria in Different Countries

Başak Saraçoğlu 9H
 Table of Contents

Introduction_______________________________________________________________ 2
What is malaria and HDI?____________________________________________________ 3
Australia__________________________________________________________________ 4
Singapore_________________________________________________________________ 5
Turkey___________________________________________________________________ 6
India_____________________________________________________________________ 7
Nigeria___________________________________________________________________ 8
Conclusion________________________________________________________________ 9
References________________________________________________________________ 10

1
 Introduction

Human Development Index (HDI) is a system that ranks countries according to their citizen’s
life quality. In this project the relationship between the rate of malaria and the HDI will be
demonstrated.

Malaria is an infectious disease and it is generally associated with poverty. Therefore, it is

expected that the countries with low HDI’s will have more malaria cases. But there are other
factors which affect the rate of malaria in different countries and that should be taken under
consideration when finding the relationship between HDI and the rate of malaria. These
factors are often results of the geographical location of the country. Like the climate and the
weather. So I will not examine Norway, Switzerland even though they are at the top of the
HDI.

My aim in doing this project is to understand the main causes of malaria exceptionally the
economic ones. Such as access to medication and the funding for malaria control. In some
countries malaria kills more than wars do. Just like Professor Price said “Malaria now is
mainly a disease for poor countries.”

2
 What is malaria??
Malaria is mosquito-borne infectious disease, commonly transmitted by an infected female
Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is caused by getting bitten by an infected mosquito, blood
transfusion from an infected person and from mother to fetus. Malaria’ symptoms can develop
7-14 days after the transmission. In minor cases the symptoms include fever, tiredness,
headaches, chills, nausea and vomiting however these cases don’t result in death. But in
severe cases the symptoms include yellow skin, schizophrenia, organ failure and these cases
may result in death. When infected with malaria, immediate medical attention must be sought.
Malaria is usually treated with antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine. To prevent malaria
transmission, travelers should be vaccinated before visiting countries with high malaria
transmission and use anti-mosquito sprays.

According to World Health Organization, in 2015 there were 214 million malaria cases and
438,000 deaths worldwide. Most of the cases are in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America
and Asia. Highest malaria rates are linked with extreme poverty, low funding for malaria
control and low hygiene conditions. Malaria also has a big socio-economic impact on
countries. Malaria can occur in warmer regions close to the equator and in more humid
regions but malaria will not occur at very high altitudes, during cold seasons and in deserts.

Malaria may not be a serious issue in our country but the less developed countries continue to
suffer by it. Even though a cure for this disease is discovered these countries can’t access it.
This is a serious problem. More developed countries should help funding for antimalarial
medication and more countries should be malaria free in 2019.

What is human development index?

Human Development Index (HDI) is a system that orders all of the countries in decreasing life
quality. It is created by a Pakistani economist: Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq. HDI is composed of three
parts; gross national income index, life expectancy index and education index. Education
index is measured according to expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling. In
2018 Norway ranks 1st in the HDI with a value of 0.953, Switzerland follows Norway with a
HDI value of 0.944. Both of these countries are well-known for being one step ahead of the
other countries. The country that ranks last in the HDI is Niger with a value of 0.354. HDI’s
main goal is to advance human’s life quality.

3
 Australia
Australia ranks 3rd in the HDI with a HDI value of 0.939. There is no malaria transmission in
Australia since 1981. Malaria is endemic in in the Asia Pacific region but not in Australia.
Even though Australia has the almost the same climate with its neighbors Australia is malaria
free. These countries have a hot and humid climate which is the perfect climate for mosquitos.
Therefore, Australia having no malaria transmission isn’t a result of its climate.

Figure 1: Australia's neighbor's malaria

cases graph
Figure 2: world malaria map

200 years ago, malaria was one of the biggest issues in Australia. The main reason of the
deaths of the colonists in 1800s was malaria. In fact, most of the headstones in the Pioneer’s
Cemetery says that the cause of death was malaria. But the Australian health authorities,
scientists, researchers were very capable with dealing with malaria. They had the money to
develop drugs, they isolated the infected people and killed the mosquitos.

Australia is wealthier and more developed than its neighbors and therefore has a higher HDI
which is the main reason why Australia has no malaria transmission and its neighbors do.

4
 Singapore
Singapore ranks 9th in HDI with a value of 0.932. Just like Australia, Singapore’s neighbors
have high malaria transmission while Singapore has none. Singapore is malaria free since
1982. With its equatorial climate and heavy rainfall Singapore is a suitable breeding
environment for mosquitos.

Figure 4: fogging method Figure 3: another example of the fogging method

The Singaporean government took measures the prevent malaria transmission. In the 1960s
the government moved the people out of the slums which have low hygiene conditions, into
sites with better hygiene conditions. To fight with malaria, the government also used the
“fogging” method. “Fogging” is spraying the mosquito breeding grounds with a chemical
harmful to the mosquitos.

5
 Turkey
HDI of Turkey is 0.791, ranks 64th out of 189. Right now, Turkey has no malaria
transmission. Turkey is in a malaria high risk area but has no malaria transmission. There has
been a 75% decline in malaria cases between 2000 and 2015. In 2013, there was only 34 cases
and 3 deaths. One of the main reasons of malaria in Turkey was travelers coming from
endemic countries. Such as Iraq and Syria. In the past years Southeastern regions and
Anatolia had the highest malaria transmission But with the help of the Southeastern Anatolia
Project malaria was eliminated.

Figure 5 : the decline of malaria cases in Turkey

During Ottoman Empire, malaria was a big problem. Tuberculosis and malaria was the most
common diseases. But during the Turkish Republic the devotion to the fight with malaria
increased. Malaria fighting organizations and malaria control centers were established. There
were 3 malaria control centers in 1924 and 11 in 1932. Therefore a serious decline in malaria
cases had been seen. But during World War II, the number of cases increased due to the
disruption of the malaria fighting organizations. Fortunately these organizations were re-
established between 1950 and 1975.

Ministry of Health was the most effective party in the fight against malaria. Malaria diagnose
tests were free in public hospitals. This helped eliminate malaria. Although there is no malaria
in Turkey today, experts say that malaria can still resurface if Turkey stops taking
precautions.

6
 India

Figure 6: India's malaria color map Figure 7: malaria cases in Asia

India has a HDI value of 0.640 and ranks 130th in 189. Malaria has been affecting India for
centuries. India is the 4th country with the highest malaria transmission. In 19th and 20th
centuries 1/4 of the population was infected. In 1947 the population of India was 330 million
and 75 million was infected by malaria. According to World Malaria Report in 2014 India
7
was accounted for 58% of the malaria cases in the South-East Asia region and in 2017 more
than half of the population was at risk of malaria. Malaria cases in India started to decline in
1964 but then the disease came back with even more cases.

Malaria transmission is high in India because of the low hygiene conditions, the climate and
the country’s inability to buy or formulate a sufficient amount of antimalarial medicine. Also
the treatment is especially hard because the mosquitos in some areas of India have developed
drug resistance. However, India has come a long way since the 20th and the early 21th century.
In the past malaria seriously damaged India’s economy, helped cause poverty and lowered the
life quality of the citizens.

India is fighting with malaria with the support of the *Global Fund. There has been a 24%
decline in malaria cases between 2016-2017. But India needs more funding for malaria
control. The acting country director of **Malaria No More; Pratik Kumar stated that India
needs over 10,000 crore till 2022 to fight with malaria.

*A fund created by USA in order to fight with worldwide AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
**An organization that envisions a world with no malaria and helps fund for it.

Nigeria
Nigeria ranks 157th in HDI with a value of 0.532. Nigeria is pretty behind of all the other
countries in the HDI. This is linked with the high malaria transmission and the number of
deaths due to malaria in the region. Malaria is a big problem in Africa and Nigeria along with
a few other countries suffer the most. 1 out of 5 deaths of children are due to malaria. 97% of
the Nigeria’ population is at risk from malaria. Due to its tropical climate Nigeria is already
suitable for malaria. This added up with the country’ low socio-economic status is the reason
why malaria still exists in Nigeria.

8
 Elvis Eze, a doctor from Nigeria currently working at London says “The community is
complacent about a disease which is very much part of the average Nigerian’s life.” about
malaria. He also states that the people don’t know what causes malaria so naturally they can’t
protect themselves against it.

Figure 8: Funding for malaria in Nigeria

Figure 9: Share of malaria cases in Africa

To prevent or at least decline the malaria transmission in Nigeria, the government should
spend more money for malaria and the population’s awareness should be increased.

Conclusion

As the data provided at the earlier pages prove, as the country’s rank in the Human
Development Index decrease, the rate of malaria increases. HDI examines all aspects of a
human’s life in each country very thoroughly and the countries with low HDI values are
developing or undeveloped countries. Because malaria is connected with poverty, there is an
obvious connection between HDI and the rate of malaria.

9
This is seen in the 5 countries examined. These countries are all at very different places of the
HDI. Therefore, the difference between their rate of malaria is very clear. Nigeria has the
highest rate of malaria and the lowest HDI value amongst all of the countries. Singapore and
Australia has the highest HDI values and the lowest rate of malaria.

References

1. Factsheet on the World Malaria Report 2012.” World Health Organization, World
Health Organization, 11 Apr. 2013,
www.who.int/malaria/media/world_malaria_report_2012_facts/en/.
2. “World Malaria Report 2017.” World Health Organization, World Health
Organization, 15 Oct. 2018, www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-
2017/en/ .

10
 3. “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports,
hdr.undp.org/en/2018-update .
4. “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports,
hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/SLE.
5. “CDC - Malaria - About Malaria - Where Malaria Occurs.” Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/distribution.html.
6. “Climate and Malaria in Africa.” Climate Data Library,
iridl.ldeo.columbia.edu/maproom/Health/Regional/Africa/Malaria/index.html.
7. “Travelers' Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 12 June 2017,
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/malaria.
8. “Human Development Reports.” About Human Development | Human Development
Reports, hdr.undp.org/en/humandev .
9. “GLOBAL FUND'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO INDIA'S MALARIA FIGHT IS
CRITICAL FOR ELIMINATING THE DISEASE BY 2030.” Malaria No More, 12
Feb. 2019, www.malarianomore.org/news/global-fund-continued-support-to-india-
malaria-fight-is-critical-for-eliminating-the-disease-by-2030/ .
10. Malaria, medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/malaria.htm.
11. Rolfe, Benjamin. “Forget Zika - There's a Terrifying Outbreak on Our
Doorstep.” ABC News, 30 June 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-01/malaria-
sweeping-asia-but-tafenoquine-offers-hope/9923622 .
12. “On the Path to Eliminating Malaria.” Australia Unlimited,
www.australiaunlimited.com/science/davidfidock .
13. Canna, Xavier La, et al. “Why Is There No Malaria in the Northern Territory?” ABC
News, 18 Mar. 2019, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-26/curious-darwin-why-is-there-
no-malaria-northern-capital/8964984.
14. Webb, Sara. “After Taming Malaria, Singapore Fights Dengue.” Reuters, Thomson
Reuters, 11 Dec. 2006, www.reuters.com/article/us-malaria-singapore-s/after-taming-
malaria-singapore-fights-dengue-idUSSP28481920061211 .
15. Gockchinar, T, and S Kalipsi. “Current Malaria Situation in Turkey.” Meditsinskaia
Parazitologiia i Parazitarnye Bolezni, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2001,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11548315 .

11
 16. Piyal, Birgul, et al. “An Analysis of the Prevalence of Malaria in Turkey over the Last
85 Years.” Pathogens and Global Health, Maney Publishing, Jan. 2013,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4001600/ .
17. Gulland, Anne. “Malaria Case Study: 'In Nigeria You Can Never Escape the
Disease'.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 17 Apr. 2018,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/nigeria-can-never-escape-malaria/ .
18. Adigun, Abbas B, et al. “Malaria Risk in Nigeria: Bayesian Geostatistical Modelling
of 2010 Malaria Indicator Survey Data.” Malaria Journal, BioMed Central, 14 Apr.
2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4404580/ .

12