“Malaria has been a major public health concern in India. This disease is mostly prevalent in hard core endemic pockets inhabited predominantly by rural population including the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other marginalized communities who have relatively limited access to quality healthcare, communication and other basic facilities and are thus rather vulnerable”.
Malaria Control
Context
Government of India and state governments are committed to eliminate Malaria through National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP). Govt. of India has also launched a National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) on 11th February 2016 towards commitment to Malaria Elimination by 2030.
MPVHA Efforts
Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA) in partnership with Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) implemented World Bank supported VBDC project for promotion of social mobilization and service delivery through Public-Private Partnership among vulnerable communities of high risk blocks of three districts, namely Harrai block of Chhindwara district; Rama block of Jhabua district; and, Semariya block of Sidhi district. The project was implemented during 2010 to 2013.
The objective of the project was to strategize, plan and manage:
- Social mobilization to foster increased and sustained demand for timely and appropriate preventive and curative services, to optimize use of these services, and to participate in control/elimination efforts; and
- Delivery of timely and quality preventive and curative services in project areas, as appropriate.
Major activities of the project were national level training of trainers; data collection through NGO partners; meetings and liaison with state authorities; training of trainers at district level; and, community consultation activities together with campaign about malaria control.
Major Outcomes
- Awareness created among the rural community about preventive and curative measures to control malaria.
- Strengthened access of the community to the services provided by the health department.
- Capacity building of ASHA, ANM, private practitioners, health workers, spray men, etc. on Malaria Control Programme.
- Large number of slides prepared, transported and patient treated
- Other means of control like use of larva eating fishes in ponds, clearing the water logging places and pots and use of mosquito nets were promoted.