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Speech of the WHO Regional Director on
Occasion of Afr ica
Malaria Day 2002
The
Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in Africa
by the Head of States and governments on April 25th
2000 in Abuja Nigeria, called for an ANNUAL AFRICA
MALARIA DAY. Since then, Africa and global
partners have renewed efforts to scale up and
mobilise efforts to control malaria in Africa.
Africa malaria day is our opportunitiy to
celebrate the successes in malaria control within
southern Africa, to promote key priorities, and to
advocate for further support and commitment.
The
Theme for 2002 is:
“Taking malaria drugs
and insecticide treated material
(bed-nets, curtains etc) to the home”
This
will be realised by the slogan:
“Mobilising Communities
to Roll Back Malaria”
The
role and value of the community
health worker in the prevention treatment
of malaria at community level
will be a key message when reinforcing the
above slogan.
Throughout
Southern Africa, the community health workers play
an extremely important role in malaria prevention
control and treatment. They are often the first
point of contact for many of the under-served and/
or remote communities who have limited access to a
health care institution.
Two
aims for Africa Malaria Day 2002
To mobilise
Community Action in the prevention, treatment and
control of malaria
and to highlight the role and importance of the
health worker in the prevention, treatment and
control of malaria
Specific
objectives of Africa Malaria Day 2002
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To
provide communities and household with
affordable insecticide treated mosquito nets
and (Target 60% of the population especially pregnant women and children in
malaria areas must sleep everyday under
insecticide treated mosquito nets.)
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To
improve community
access to( where policy permits) to drugs
for the prevention and treatment of malaria
(Target 60% of pregnant
women at risk of malaria should take
preventive drugs.
60% of those with malaria should
have access to treatment with malaria drugs
within 12-24 hours.)
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To
encourage wider action and community
participation in the prevention and control
of malaria.
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To
create awareness in communities about the
fact that health workers are there to help
in the fight against malaria
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To
promote the role of the health worker in the
fight against malaria
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T
o celebrate the role of the health worker as
a key provider of health in the community
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To
highlight and use examples of some of the
work and difficulties health workers face in
the process of providing services related to
the prevention control and treatment of
malaria at community level
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Three
elements of Africa Malaria Day 2002
1.
Malaria
Education and Promotion
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Production
and distribution of relevant communication
packages targeted at community members such
as opinion leaders and caregivers.
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Community
group discussions to encourage sharing of
culturally appropriate knowledge about the
causes and treatment of malaria.
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Holding
local campaigns using mass, community and
folk media
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School
competitions based on the theme
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Develop
messages for communities, health workers,
governments and international communities
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Distribute
information packs on malaria prevention
treatment and control
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(Mass
distribution of malaria control T-shirts,
Radio-Newspaper-TV Advertisments, Sticker.
Pamphlets, Pins, Ties)
2.
Provision
of malaria treatment
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Increased
access to malaria treatment for pregnant
mothers and children under five
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Distribution
and demonstration of use and re-treatment of
Insecticide Treated Material
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Distribution
and demonstration of pre-packed anti-malaria
drugs
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(Mass
campaigns and distribution to ensure all community
health workers have adequate stocks of
anti-malaria drugs for prevention and treatment
and have mosquito nets and insecticides kits for
re-treatment of mosquito nets. Encourage
donations to communities of anti-malaria drugs and
Mosquito nets by private sector companies, NGOs,
bilateral and multilateral organisations, embassys
etc)
3.
Recognition
of the role of the health worker in malaria
control
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Reward
health workers for their role in malaria
prevention at community level
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Encourage
their constant and continued support to
communities in malaria prevention and
control
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(Distribution
to community health workers of malaria T.shirts,
Pins, Ties, Scarf's, Mosquito Nets and awards for
community health workers)
Activities
for Africa Malaria Day start on the 15th
April, followed by an address by the Regional
Director Afro on the 24th of April and
culminating on the 25th April with key
celebrations throughout the region. Campaigns to
educate the public, health workers, policymakers,
politicians will then continue throughout the
year.
Southern
Africa is taking malaria Insecticide Treated
Mosquito nets
to the home and appreciating the role of the
health worker in malaria prevention treatment and
control
Africa
Malaria Day 2002
Africa
Malaria Day 2001:
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