|
 Proposed
Activities for Africa Malaria Day, 25 April 2002
Overall
Objectives
1)
Raise awareness of the need to prevent and
control malaria by reinforcing :
 |
The
prevention of malaria using ITMs, especially
among pregnant women and children under five |
|
The
home management of malaria |
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Prompt
and effective treatment malaria |
2)
Kick-start long lasting communications
activities and IEC programmes targeting community
and country levels.
Communications
Objectives
It
is important to note that the above goals connote a
medium to longer-term campaign. This in turn implies
Africa Malaria Day 2002 can be seen as seen as kick
starting the launch of a longer-term communications
initiative. As stated in RD’s memo on AMD, the
theme for 2002 should be implemented throughout the
year.
Focus
It
is important to note that the theme for AMD 2002,
‘Bringing Malaria Treatments and ITMs
to the Home’, suggests that the prime focus
will be the local community. This does not, however,
preclude coverage of other target audiences, the
country, regional, and international communities.
Communications
Strategy
The
communications strategy will be centred on
delivering core messages to the various audiences
(community, country, regional and international
levels) through multi-media and a variety of
community and country activities believed to have
the greatest impact. It is planned that AFRO’s
role at the country level (and community) level will
be purely supportive. AFRO, backed by the
Information Unit, will implement a promotional
campaign at the regional/international levels.
Community
and Country Participation
Community
and national participation in the planning and
execution of the various AMD initiatives is
imperative and highly encouraged. A prime goal, it
should be remembered, is to engage, mobilize and
empower these constituencies to take the lead role
in the effort to Roll Back Malaria.
When
do we begin?
The
theme AMD 2002 suggests continued activity
throughout the year. It is, however, recommended
that specific activities for AMD 2002 start 15
April, 10 days before AMD. Activities to begin on
the 15th will be followed by the RD’s
address on 24 April. This will be widely circulated
through the media and the Internet. The celebrations
of AMD will peak on April 25.
AMD
2002: The Community Level
Community
Level Objectives
These
are:
|
The
prevention of malaria using ITMs |
|
The
rapid diagnosis and treatment of the illness
close to, or at home |
|
The
strengthening of mobilization and organization
for community, family and personal prevention
and treatment of malaria |
|
The
protection and treatment of especially pregnant
women and children |
|
Ensuring
that at least 60 percent of those suffering from
malaria have access to rapid, adequate and
affordable treatment
|
|
Ensuring
that at least 60 per cent of those at risk,
especially pregnant women and children under
five, benefit from the most appropriate
combinations of personal and communal
protection, including ITMs
|
|
Ensuring
that at least 60 per cent of pregnant women at
risk, especially those at first pregnancy, have
access to protective treatment or prophylaxis |
Core
messages:
|
Malaria is
preventable and curable |
|
There is a need
for prevention and control of malaria at the
community level |
|
Malaria can and
should be managed starting from home |
|
Communities should
seek prompt access to treatment
|
|
ITM’s are
invaluable in the prevention of malaria for the
entire family but more so for pregnant women and
young children
|
|
Between now and
2005
- at least 60
percent of those affected by malaria should
have access to rapid, adequate and
affordable treatment
- at least 60
per cent of those at risk, especially
pregnant women and children under five,
should benefit from the most appropriate
combinations of personal and communal
protection, including ITMs
- at least 60
per cent of pregnant women at risk,
especially those at first pregnancy, should
have access to protective treatment
or prophylaxis.
|
Proposed
Community Activities
Media
|
Supply
press kits and appropriate background material
to media, opinion leaders, health workers and
other partners |
|
Arrange
for innovative and creative use of radio and
television broadcast of PSAs, videos on local
radio and television stations |
|
Stimulate
community radio broadcasts based on core
messages and PSAs |
|
Ensure
news, feature and other in-depth coverage of AMD
and malaria in both local print and electronic
media in run-up AMD |
|
On
24 April, circulate RD’s AMD message to local
media, opinion leaders, health workers and
partners |
|
On
AMD, create media programme culminating in news
conference led by highest profile leadership and
backed founding partners and local celebrities.
Redistribute RD’s ADM message |
|
Organize
news conferences led by high profile political
figures and/or celebrities |
The
Community
|
Post
AFRO posters at points of maximum visibility
(maximum prominence at points high human traffic
of target groups, e.g. women, school children,
youth groups, teacher training students. |
|
Adapt
AFRO Public Service Announcements for locally
produced promotional material (posters,
newspaper supplements, etc,.) group discussions,
workshops, school poem, essay and poster design
competitions, etc,. |
|
Provide
local posters, in local languages and using
local context, and other promotional material.
Inscribed car licence stickers, rulers, pencils,
school exercise books, probably sponsored by
other partners, are an example. |
|
Organize
poem, essay, drawing, poster design and other
competitions in schools around core messages and
PSAs |
|
Launch
creation of Roll Back Malaria clubs in schools |
|
Organize
demonstrations on the treatment and re-treatment
of nets at community meeting points |
|
Supply
pre-packaged anti-malaria medication, where
available, to local communities |
|
Organize
community level discussions to encourage the
exchange of traditional knowledge on the causes,
prevention and treatment of malaria |
|
Organize
cross-sector discussions, workshops, seminars,
around PSAs, bringing together anti-malaria
community members, health workers, building
contractors, farmers and other developers whose
work impacts on malaria situation |
|
Publicize
materials provided by the country and regional
offices, and headquarters |
Advocacy
Through
advocacy, ensure local government/government
announces positive shift in
anti-malaria policy, strategy, prevention and
treatment, supply of drugs, provision
of subsidies for ITMs, training of health worker,
etc,.
Proposed
AFRO Support for Community Level Activities
|
AFRO
will provide promotional materials that include |
|
A
generic poster on the prevention and treatment
of malaria |
|
Public
Service Announcements for community radio and
television broadcast, print media, locally
produced posters and themes for local radio and
TV. The PSAs can also be used to provide themes
for various types discussion, as well as
competitions in poetry, essay writing and poster
design in schools, youth groups, teacher
training colleges. Innovation and creativity in
the use of these messages is encouraged. |
|
T.V.
quality videos for television broadcast |
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Make
all appropriate material available on Internet |
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Limited
financial support, where this is sought |
AMD
2002: Country Level Objectives
|
Create and sustain
demand for ITMs |
|
Ensuring
availability of nets, insecticides and treatment
services |
|
Guaranteeing
affordability |
|
Fostering
government, community and private sector
partnerships for the prevention and treatment of
malaria. |
|
Advocacy for
government and partnership support for African
Malaria Day concerns (e.g. reduce taxes on ITMs,
ensure availability of treatment for even
poorest communities) |
Core
Messages:
|
Malaria is
preventable and curable |
|
Government, NGOs
and other partners can and should do more to
prevent and treat malaria, promptly |
|
Government should
do more to strengthen health services, policies
and technical support for anti-malaria
programmes |
|
ITM’s are
invaluable in the prevention of malaria for the
entire family but more so for pregnant women and
young children
|
|
Between now and
2005
- at least 60
percent of those affected by malaria should
have access to rapid, adequate and
affordable treatment
- at least 60
per cent of those at risk, especially
pregnant women and children under five,
should benefit from the most appropriate
combinations of personal and communal
protection, including ITMs
- at least 60
per cent of pregnant women at risk,
especially those at first pregnancy, should
access to should have access to protective
treatment
or prophylaxis.
|
Country
Level Activities:
Advocacy
|
Launch
advocacy initiative aimed at:
-
Policies
for the prevention and treatment of malaria
-
Removal
of obstacles to the prevention and treatment
of malaria
|
|
Lobby
for government public pledge for support of
above initiatives (e.g. reduction of taxes on
ITMs, improved supply of drugs, increased
resources for training of health workers) |
|
Lobby
national postal services for AMD postage stamps |
|
Lobby
governments for increased resources to RBM
activities using available opportunities like
the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, Highly
Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), and
Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). |
Media
|
Issue
media kit (background to AMD, news statistics, new
research findings, facts on malaria, frequently
asked questions about malaria, other backgrounders)
to sensitize media to core issues and provide work
material |
|
Ensure innovative and creative use of PSAs,
videos, press kit for national electronic and print
media |
|
Syndicate AMD video release (UN and other T.V.
radio, RBM partners, media) |
|
Ensure news, feature and other in-depth
coverage of AMD and malaria in both local print and
electronic media in run-up AMD |
|
On 24 April, circulate RD’s AMD message to
local media, opinion leaders, health workers and
partners |
|
On AMD, create media programme culminating in
news conference led by highest profile leadership
and backed founding partners and local celebrities.
Redistribute RD’s ADM message |
|
Post appropriate materials on website |
Proposed
Country Activities
|
Distribute and generic Africa Malaria Day
posters |
|
Organize Government and RBM Partnership
launch of public education campaign on malaria
control, focused on use of PSAs. |
|
Circulate AMD computer screen saver |
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Host review workshop of country malaria
situation (Current Situation, Trends, Prospects)
with public and private sector (manufacturers,
suppliers, distributors, vendors, religious bodies
and NGOs) participation |
|
Launch RBM Partnership issue of country Annual
Malaria Update Report |
|
Commission theme songs, theatre pieces for
AMD commemoration and later use |
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Post bill boards at strategic locations in
capitals and major towns |
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Stamp outgoing mail and e-mail with Africa
Malaria Day logo and PSAs |
|
Produce other promotional materials including
stickers, postcards, pens, pencils, inscribed school
exercise books |
|
Liase with NGOs and other partners to reach
remotest areas |
|
Collaborate with Unicef and other partners in
AMD in creation and running of above and other
activities |
A
Note on Organization
A
prime goal, it should again be remembered, is to
engage, mobilize and empower community and national
constituencies to take the lead role in the effort
to Roll Back Malaria. If they are to take ownership,
and build commitment, they, together with other RBM
partners, must be into
the design, implementation and evaluation process of
the commemoration of AMD 2002 from the very
beginning. AMD must be seen as an all-inclusive
rather than WHO—Ministry of Health partnership.
All-inclusive design, implementation and evaluation
teams are highly recommended.
If
the planned AMD 2002 activities are to capture the
imagination of target audiences, it is imperative
that they are promoted in a most creative manner.
The various country offices are thus strongly
advised to come up with new statistics and other
striking findings on the damage caused by malaria. A
shock effect is certain to capture the necessary
attention. These can be compiled from a local
clinic, rural health centre, or major city hospital.
Country offices and can then move on to show how
relatively simple and inexpensive methods can
greatly reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria.
Back
to Africa Malaria Day 2002
Africa
Malaria Day 2001:
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