According to the WHO, 198 million people are affected by malaria. A recent study shows that the construction of dams in sub-Saharan Africa could worsen this toll.
Economic development comes at a price. On the African continent, thousands of dams have been built on rivers and streams in recent decades, resulting in better irrigation of crops, a more efficient electricity system, or better access to water. drinkable.
Dams and mosquitoes
Nevertheless, these installations have sometimes had unintended consequences on the local populations. This is what underlines a study published in the Malaria Journal earlier this month, which for the first time establishes a link between these dams and the increase in the number of cases of malaria (or malaria) in the region where they are built.
Indeed, mosquitoes Anopheles, carriers of the parasites of the genus Plasmodium responsible for the disease, reproduce in stagnant water sources. Many of these water points are found on the banks near the dams.
The researchers first established the location of 1,268 dams already built, and 78 others currently under construction. In each determined region, they analyzed the health data they had about the population living within a 9 km perimeter around the dam. This work allowed them to calculate the rate of infection of the inhabitants by the parasite. Plasmodium falciparum, depending on their proximity to the dam.
In order to bring more weight to a link that can be compared to a simple correlation, the team compared these results with the conclusions of 11 other epidemiological studies carried out at the level of dams.
1 million cases per year
According to the estimates of the team of scientists, led by Dr Solomon Kibret, the relationship between the presence of dams and the increase in the number of cases is striking.
15 million people are believed to live within 5 km of the dams studied and more than a million cases diagnosed each year are linked to the mosquito populations that have proliferated near these installations.
The 78 facilities under construction could be responsible for an additional 56,000 cases once built, given the state of health of the populations and the characteristics of the regions concerned.
Review development projects
Dr Kibret therefore considers that the construction projects were not prepared taking into account all the inconveniences that could affect the inhabitants. “The population at risk is almost four times greater than what was previously estimated,” underlines Dr. Kibret.
Despite their economic and energy benefits, this study shows that the cost of dams in terms of health is significant. In the long term, it can affect the development of countries. What push the organizations that establish development projects in Africa to spend more time assessing the social and health consequences of dams on the local population.
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