The Drum Beat 40: Malaria and Dengue - Community Approaches

Community Programmes 

1. Malaria Control - Ghana - Six districts used community approaches specific to their regions needs and resources to determine the impact of health sector reform on a malaria vertical disease control programme, and to determine if malaria control could be successfully integrated into district health plans. Contact: Vicki Doyle tor@liv.ac.uk 

2. Malaria Control in the Framework of Primary Health Care - Mali, Mauritania, Uganda, Viet Nam - Main strategy is to integrate malaria control into district health care systems using a standard set of training programs, treatment protocols, quality assurance systems for peripheral laboratories, information material for educational campaigns and approaches to bed net impregnation. Contact: Eva Maria Christophel emchristo@compuserve.com 

3. Community Level Malaria Intervention - Kenya - community mobilization project with the objective of promoting the use of insecticide-treated sisal strands in integrated malaria control at the community level in rural areas. Seeks sustainable development and use of pre-existing resources. The quasi experimental study was preceded by intense IEC and IBC (Information for Behaviour Change). Contact: Dismus Ongore comhlth@form-net.com 

4. Health System Reform and Malaria Control Programme - Laos - takes a broad approach to improve the quality of basic heath care, the awareness of health behaviour, and the strengthening of the national malaria control programme. Four components were used to strengthen the capability of the MOH and participating health services to implement project activities. Contact: Dr. Bounsouane Phomsoupha pcu@pan.laos.net.la 

5. Malaria Control Project - Azerbaijan - The Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan, with the technical assistance of WHO Regional Office for Europe, provides training of public health personnel and community health care providers involved in malaria prevention and control activities. Objective: 50% reduction in the malaria incidence in Azerbaijan over 3 years. The private oil company ENI spa (Italy) is providing the financial support. Contact: Dr Guido Sabatinelli (WHO EURO) Tel. +45 3917 1228 or Vincenzo Boffi (ENI) Tel. +39.06.59821

Partnership 

6. Malaria Services - Surat City - India - establishes partnerships and mechanisms to bringing private and public sectors together, assess their perceptions and concerns regarding the current provision of malaria services and mechanisms for improving them. Current weaknesses in delivery systems quality of care provided are identified, and appropriate responses developed. Contact: Anthony Zwi a.zwi@lshtm.ac.uk 

Funds 

7. Call for Applications - The TDR Task Force on Drug Resistance and Policies is calling for applications to identify candidate sites for pilot studies leading to the phased implementation of combination therapy in Africa. The pilot studies are intended to collect the baseline data. Contact Piero Olliaro olliarop@who.ch Web site. 

Impact 

8. Community-Based Malaria Control - Ecuador and Columbia - Community-based educational programmes in Ecuador showed 30% increase in correct knowledge of malaria transmission, 25% in correct knowledge of symptoms, and 25% increase in knowledge about the correct number of doses of chloroquine for adults. Respective knowledge shift values in Colombia were 28%, 38% and 48%. The correct doses of chloroquine taken during a clinical malaria attack were improved by 20% in Ecuador and by 46% in Colombia. Contact: Dr. A. Kroeger A.Kroeger@liverpool.ac.uk 

Research 

9. Coconuts against Malaria - Peru - IDRC Researchers have found that a bacterium on coconuts kills mosquito larvae. Developed a kit for community-level intervention so that they can control the disease with minimal instruction. Contact: Palmira Ventosilla pub@idrc.ca 

10. Insecticide Treated Bednets for Malaria Control - Kenya - Ethnographic studies were used to culturally define malaria strategies and attitudes towards prevention and cure. Participatory research methodologies were utilized to promote bednet use (emphasising awareness of risk, the role of disease prevention, and bednet re-impregnation) and compared against conventional educational activities. Contact: H.W. van den Borne b.vdborne@gvo.unimaas.nl 

Advocacy 

11. The Drive Against Malaria - Global - Explorer David Robertson continues his five-year, six-continent circumnavigation of the globe to raise money for the fight against malaria. In a partnership between Malaria Foundation International and MEMISA, attention will de drawn to the growing danger of malaria in the world's longest journey. Contact: Kathryn Burchenal Kathryn.Burchenal@malaria.org 

12. Beat the Fever - Through Malaria Foundation International, popular musicians have come together to create awareness about malaria issues by compiling a list of music from around the world on a CD called "Beat the Fever". Contact: Kathryn Burchenal Kathryn.Burchenal@malaria.org 

13. Multilateral Initiative on Malaria [MIM] - Promoting global communication and public awareness are two goals of MIM, an alliance of organisations and individuals concerned with malaria. Aims to maximise the impact of scientific research against malaria in Africa, through promoting capacity building and facilitating global collaboration and coordination. Contact: M. Renshaw m.renshaw@wellcome.ac.uk 

Surveillance 

14. SIG-MALARIA - Brazil - Researchers have developed a computer software program called SIG-MALARIA, designed for malaria surveillance. Using a micro-computer to evaluate malaria in municipalities, it produces information for use in the prevention and control of the disease. In future, the software will be used at SUCAM's regional offices as a tool to improve malaria control at both the regional and central levels in Brazil. Contact: Flavio F. Nobre C.P. 68501 Rio de Janeiro 219459PJ, Brazil 

Social Marketing 

15. KINET - Tanzania - A large-scale social marketing programme of insecticide-treated nets in 2 rural districts in southwestern Tanzania used a variety of media channels. A total of 22,410 nets and 8072 treatments were sold during the first year: 18 months after launching, 46% of 312 families with children aged under 5 years reported that their children were sleeping under treated nets. Contact: JR Schellenberg ifakara.ihrdc@twiga.com 

Materials 

16. Colour brochure - "Preventing dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, a fact sheet for municipal and community leaders" (CTD/FIL(DEN)/94.4) is available in four languages [English, French, Spanish, Portuguese]. Click here to access the PDF version on the WHO Web site.

15. Malaria: Failure, Puzzle & Challenge - This PAHO article addresses various malaria eradication programmes, analyzing them for strengths and weaknesses to understand the challenges malaria has posed to development. - by Daniel Epstein, Perspectives in Health Volume 4 No. 1, 1999 Contact epsteind@paho.org 

Studies 

16. Economic Study of Malaria in Africa - The aims of this study are to calculate the cost-effectiveness of the main tools for malaria prevention and treatment, and to assess the benefits of malaria control for households and Africa as a whole. The review is proceeding by a comprehensive and critical appraisal of current studies in these two main areas; and an estimated cost-effectiveness and benefits, based on best estimates from the literature and plausible assumptions. Contact: Anne Mills a.mills@lshtm.ac.uk 

17. Impregnated Bed Nets for Malaria Control in the Iquitos Region - Peru - This intervention study developed and evaluated a project using impregnated bed nets to reduce malaria transmission. Based on its effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability, recommendations were produced for malaria control. Contact: Peter Winch pwinch@jhsph.edu 

18. Utilization of malarial drugs at household level - Zambia - To improve the use of anti-malarial drugs at the household level, this study was conducted. The facilities offering services to women and children seeking malaria treatment, the providers working at these levels and other individuals who may influence the use of malaria drugs at household level at various delivery levels were examined. Contact: Dennis Ross-Degnan drossdeg@warren.med.harvard.edu 

Maps 

19. Malaria Maps - Interactive maps of Africa and Asia showing high and low risk areas for malaria are available on this German-language website maintained by Andreas Kaunzner.

Networks 

20. Malaria Research Network - The MRN is a discussion system provided by Malaria Foundation International for professionals working with malaria. Chaired public or private discussions engage malaria researchers worldwide to address issues they choose. Click here to visit the web site. 

21. Malaria Foundation International - By collecting and disseminating information regarding many aspects of malaria initiatives and news, the development and implementation of solutions to problems caused by malaria are facilitated. Click here to visit the web site. 

Training 

22. Asian Collaborative Training Network for Malaria - South East Asia - collects, develops, and disseminates training materials, and improves communication between countries on malaria issues in southeast Asia and the Mekong valley. The members jointly develop and organise international malaria training courses and support a communication network for information exchange. Click here to visit the web site.

 

Many thanks to everyone for their information and ideas. Please send contributions to Deborah Heiman - Editor of the Drum Beat dheimann@comminit.com. This issue edited by Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com.

 

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