Malaria and the Subsistence Crisis in Northeast Shewa, Ethiopia, in the 20th Century

Abstract

ABSTRACT Malaria is one of the top five fatal illnesses in Ethiopia. This study examines the historical ecology of malaria and the subsistence crisis in Northeast Shewa in the 20th century. Findings reveal that malaria not only caused health problems but also hindered productivity and development. The prevalence of the illness hindered settlement and development in Northeast Shewa until the 1950s and 1960s. Although malaria was endemic to the region, major outbreaks were intermittent. The absence of adequate health facilities added to the impoverishment and low awareness of the local people, and the poor housing and environmental conditions made the members of local society the worst victims. Moreover, the change of the behaviour of the vector and the parasite, partly due to climate change, made prevention and control efforts challenging. Since the 1950s, the Ethiopian government has been working, with the support of the World Health Organization and the United Nations, to eradicate the illness and reduce the intensity of the problem. The study depends on archival documents and oral sources.