Malaria Communities Programme
Why: Through behavior change communication, reduce the number of deaths attributable to malaria.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS:
– Ministry of Health’s National – — Malaria Control Center
– Churches Association of Zambia (CHAZ)
– UNICEF
– World Vision.
WHAT: The Malaria Communities Programme, a project under the President’s Malaria Initiative, was implemented in three hard-hit rural districts, including Luapula to reduce the deaths attributable to malaria. There, we worked closely with communities, teaching 416 health workers and community members how to control and prevent malaria through training. We supported them as they delivered evidence-based social and behavioural change communication messages to mobilise their communities around prevention. The project also coached community leaders to encourage pregnant women and children under five to sleep under long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets. Finally, educational and promotional materials and guidelines were developed with the MOH’s National Malaria Control Centre and technical working groups.
– Encouraged vulnerable populations to seek and use these bednets, and to have at least one in each household. We also advocated among fisherfolk, many of whom used the nets for commercial fishing activities—to the detriment of their families.
– Provided preventive medication to pregnant women.
– Provided malaria diagnosis and treatment.
