Eliminating the malaria scourge

The economic cost in terms of lost hours of productive activities and provision of malaria treatment has become a huge burden to the government, which compelled donor agencies to support government’s effort to eliminate the scourge. Under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the federal government has been collaborating with states and other donor agencies […]

The economic cost in terms of lost hours of productive activities and provision of malaria treatment has become a huge burden to the government, which compelled donor agencies to support government’s effort to eliminate the scourge.
Under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the federal government has been collaborating with states and other donor agencies to adopt the use of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) as a vector control measure for the spread of malaria. The programme has distributed over 60 million bed nets nationwide through special campaigns and routine exercise.
In spite of the mass distribution of the bed nets and aggressive public enlightenment on the importance of using the bed nets, the challenge still remains lack of use, or improper use. Many people, especially in the rural communities, don’t know how to hang, use or maintain the bed nets. Others have adopted the nets to other unintended uses such as using them as fishing nets, door or window blinds, or as a protective cover for food against flies and other germs.
Disturbed by this new development, the NMEP launched the post-LLINs replacement campaign in selected states where malaria is still endemic. Sokoto State is one of such states where the state government itself has distributed over 2.5 million bed nets to communities without commensurate impact.
As a proactive measure, AMSAG Development and Health Consulting Limited has stepped up efforts aimed at changing the behaviour of the people in Sokoto State to adopt the use of bed nets even after the replacement campaign. The project is expected to promote proper and consistent use of bed nets among the population.
The organisation has adopted a comprehensive strategy, involving advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to reach over 120 communities in the state and change their perception of LLINs.
As a first step, the organisation has conducted advocacy to traditional rulers, community heads, faith-based groups, state health officials and civil society organisations to explain the objectives of the programme and seek their support. The advocacy visits have paid up handsomely as many of the community leaders have mobilised their people to attend the series of dialogues organised by AMSAG.
More than 2000 community-based health volunteers from the 224 wards in the state have been mobilised to support the project. Some of them serve as intermediaries who connect the communities to the project team and provide background information on the communities. This has served in providing an effective way of implementing the project. The meeting also helped in crystallizing the strategy for effective coverage of the state and monitoring progress.
AMSAG has also sponsored jingles on the state radio which are transmitted during prime time when most families are glued to their radio sets. The jingles have become so popular that one could hear children reciting them while on errands or on their way to or back from school.
Besides radio jingles, there have been series of school programmes where AMSAG team members speak to students on causes and prevention of malaria. Every session has a practical demonstration of hanging and using the bed net. After the demonstration, students and teachers are given the opportunity to ask questions.
During one of the sessions held at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Sokoto North, AMSAG project director, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, took time to explain the knotty issues about hanging and using the bed nets.
“The bed nets don’t cause rashes. But when you experience any rash, remove the net and wash it with soap and water, then tumble it dry for 24 hours under normal temperature. Then hang it back,” Dr Abdullahi Maiwada explained.
In addition to the school programmes, AMSAG has embarked on community mobilisation that brings community elders, youth groups and women together for a dialogue on the use of bed nets as a preventive measure against malaria.
In January to March 2015, AMSAG was hosted by communities in Sokoto South and North, as well as Wammakko, Sabon Birni, Bodinga and Yabo local government areas to speak to more than 180 community elders, youth leaders and women on the benefits of using the bed nets.
The events provided an opportunity for the AMSAG project team to talk to communities on the negative effects of malaria and the importance of using bed nets, especially by women and children.
AMSAG project coordinator, Dr Bashir Hamza did a demonstration of the hanging of the bed net, how it is used and its maintenance.
“When you collect your bed net you need to wash and dry it for 24 hours before hanging it over your bed or mattress. You should not dry it in the sun because doing so affects its performance. You can use wood stands or corn stalks to tie the four corners of the net and then fold the lower end under your mattress,” Dr Mamza said while demonstrating.
He advised those who complained about the bed net giving them rashes to wash it again with soap and water and dry it for 24 hours under normal temperature.
AMSAG programme officer, Hajiya Ubaida spoke on the connection between poor sanitation and malaria. “For you to rid your homes of malaria, you must ensure that the mosquito has no breeding place. You need to keep your home environment and surroundings clean. When you finish cooking for the day and your husband and children have finished eating, please wash your pots and plates, and clean the gutter to avoid dirt and still water that breeds mosquitoes,” Hajiya Ubaida pleaded.
Bello wrote from Sokoto