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Malaria Monitor Wristwatch
From: http://www.gervans.com/
A SOUTH African inventor has given the global fight against the killer disease
malaria a new weapon that could save millions of lives. The Malaria Monitor
makes early detection and less severe treatment possible.
The device is the brainchild of famous inventor and entrepreneur Dr Gervan
Lubbe. Dr Lubbe became a household name with his pain relief invention, the
Action Potential Simulation (APS) Therapy device.
After a short retirement, he established Gervans Trading (Pty) Ltd returning to
the limelight with his revealing autobiography, and two new inventions one of
which is the Malaria Monitor.
The Malaria Monitor is in the form of a wristwatch. It performs a parasite count
in the wearers blood four times a day. A miniature needle obtains a blood
sample, piercing the skin by 0,5mm.
If the parasite count reaches a certain level, an alarm alerts the wearer to
seek treatment. With early detection now possible, even before the victims
experience symptoms, a much milder treatment is needed to stop the disease in
its tracks.
Dr Lubbe says when the first symptoms appear, the malaria parasites had already
multiplied extensively and spread throughout the bloodstream and into the liver.
At this stage quinine is administered a treatment that could have dire
side-effects.
Even then the malaria is merely forced into a dormant state and the victim could
experience a relapse at any time.
The monitor is safe and hygienic to use, provided the same needle is not shared
among different people. Replacement needles are available.
The Malaria Monitor was developed on request of a large mining group whose
employees often work in high risk malaria areas. The watch was designed to
withstand heavy duty impact and will tolerate activities like drilling.
The Malaria Monitor has a declaration of conformity, complying with all
international technical specifications. This means the device has been
scientifically tested and that it adheres to international technical specifications.
Gervans has donated several of the devices to the Return of the African Rainbow
Expedition for use by team members and for distribution in the areas visited.
The six-month expedition down the east coast of Africa aims to highlight the
importance of malaria prevention.
The Malaria Monitor will not only save lives, but also reduce the impact of
malaria on African economies and public health expenditure significantly.
Potential markets include governments, mining companies, other large firms
operating in malaria areas and the tourism industry.
Gervans has already received orders topping one and a half million of the
monitors. The monitors are priced at R1995,00 each (in South Africa).
Please note that the international price has not yet been fixed due to different
international technical and environmental specifications. The quality of the
product cannot be jeopardised.
300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria are reported annually 80 % of
the cases are in tropical Africa.
Between one and one-and a half million people die of malaria each year. In
Africa the disease accounts for 15 25 % of all deaths in children under the
age of 5. A child succumbs to malaria every 30 seconds.
The disease is found in more than 90 countries, but is mainly confined to
Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Malaria remains a major international public health issue. It is a complex,
but curable and preventable disease. Efforts to eradicate malaria globally were
abandoned in 1969 in favour of on-going control programmes.
It usually takes between 7 and 21 days after the mosquito bite for the illness
to appear. The first symptoms include fever, aching and headaches.
Untreated, malaria can lead to anemia, organ damage, convulsions, coma and death.
A single bout of malaria can lead to a loss of 10 working days in Africa.
The disease is slowing down economic growth in African countries by an
estimated 1,3 % per year.
The direct and indirect cost to Africa is an estimated US$ 2 billion per year.
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