Fighting Malaria in Myanmar
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. However, Myanmar has made major progress toward its goal of eliminating malaria.
This is a listening and reading activity, so please:
Listen to the video and fill the gaps in the transcript below with NO MORE than THREE words from the audio.
Read the transcript and answer the questions below.
Questions 1-10
Fill the gaps in the transcript below with NO MORE than THREE words from the audio.
Myat Thu Sein had shivers, chills and fever when she last visited this remote community health post. In the past, even a diagnosis might have been (1) ____________ but just as Myanmar's political landscape is evolving, so too is its health system. Several weeks ago, a rapid test (2) __________ malaria. She was sent home with artemisinin combination therapy. The next day, Myat Thu Sein was back at school.
A decade ago, this story may have had a different ending but today's follow-up test confirms that Myat (3) ________ malaria.
Since 2000, the number of people dying from malaria in Myanmar (4) _________ from about two-and-a-half thousand people per year to fewer than 100. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets have played a huge role but (5) __________ has been a new system of community health posts. Deep in these rubber plantations, the Global Fund is partnering with UN Ops and Save the Children to stop malaria (6) _________ . A team of well trained volunteers test and treat this highly mobile, migrant work force to ensure workers don't travel with the malaria parasite and carry it to malaria-free areas. Systems such as this have helped (7) __________ reported malaria cases from a peak of 720,000 in 2003 to 150,000 in 2014.
However, here in the borderlands near Thailand's Mysore district, a dangerous drug-resistant strain of the parasite (8) _________ to this progress. Unfortunately, resistance to artemisinin has developed, it's spreading and we have nothing else after the artenisinin.
This emerging threat and its potential to spread west to India and Africa, prompted a 100 million dollar Global Fund grant across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Now a new effort is underway to research resistance and build new systems to stop its spread. Along 400 kilometers of borderlands, a rapid response information system is (9)______ to help eliminate the parasite. As soon as a case of malaria is detected, the information is fed back to headquarters. When evidence emerges that the parasite is widespread, treating entire communities with preventative drugs becomes a weapon.
Speed is of the essence. You cannot win a battle, you cannot win the war, if you don't have good intelligence and this is a battle. We are trying to kill as many enemies as we can, which is, which are the parasites. We need to know where they are in real-time.
Victory against this thousand-year-old foe is not assured. Enduring political and financial support is critical. For girls like Myat, stronger systems for health will help them achieve their (10) _________, building enduring prosperity for Myanmar.
Questions 11-14
Identify the statements as True, False or Not Given
(11) Insecticide-treated mosquito nets have not been as important as the system of community health posts in reducing malaria.
(12) Reported cases of malaria were at their highest in 2003.
(13) A new drug-resistant parasite has spread into India and Africa.
(14) Myanmar is expected to have eliminated malaria by 2030.
When you are ready, enter your answers in the sheet below
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