Intervention Levels:
An integrated approach for Control of Malaria in Africa.
This intervention program highlights components of the multilateral approach to controlling malaria. It is aimed at drawing attention to healthcare providers and policy makers in Africa where the disease has resulted to devastating effects. This health program is a good approach of fighting malaria that has thrived in Africa. Major obstacles curtailing the fight against malaria and measures to help combat it are well articulated.
Major obstacles curtailing the fight against malaria are resistance of parasites to clinically useful drugs and the speedy development and spread of vector resistance to residual insecticides. Lack of enough antimalarial drugs that are effective, affordable, and safe has also proved to be a great obstacle in the fight against malaria. Rapid and quick diagnosis of malaria infection, coupled with drug treatment is an effective way of fighting malaria. Many health centers in Africa lack the facilities and expertise to carry proper diagnosis especially in rural areas.
Use of antimalarial drugs is the most effective way of treating malaria despite the resistance that arise. However, efforts are being made to counter this resistance. The utilization of insecticide treated bed nets provides a remarkable degree of protection against the disease. This method applies chemicals and physical barriers in malaria control. Remarkable results have been achieved from field trials in various African countries. It is a cost effective method of control (UN Millennium Project).
Improved community based systems have also shown positive impacts on control and treatment of malaria especially at family level. Proper management of sick children is also a cost effective health intervention strategy in the program. Proper management of the environment is vital to prevention of malaria. Proper health information management is key to early detection and prevention of malaria. The creation of an effective vaccine remains to be the ultimate quest for malaria control and perhaps its total eradication.
Economics has also been applied to ensure sustainability and affordability in the program. This can be greatly attributed to various preventive measures adopted such as the use of insecticide treated bed nets.
Compared to the President’s Malaria Initiative PMI, the malaria foundation international program is less effective. PMI has helped many countries in preventing and treating malaria through technical guidance, funding and programmatic support. This is not the case with Malaria Foundation International program as malaria still thrives in Africa at high levels. Although successful, PMI has still not been able to address various challenges facing the fight against malaria (Wurzbach, 2002).
Reference:
UN Millennium Project. (2005). UN Millennium development library. London: Earthscan.
Wurzbach, M. E. (2002). Community health education and promotion: A guide to program design and evaluation. Gaithersburg, Md: Aspen Publishers.
