Step 6: Programme Design
The programme design will need to address all components of a robust malaria control programme. At a minimum:
- Prevention: measures to prevent malaria will ideally combine vector control and personal protection measures, but at the least, the latter. Click here for information on different malaria prevention approaches.
- Diagnosis: measures to ensure accurate diagnostic facilities are available. Click here for guidance on how to approach malaria diagnosis, how to establish diagnostic facilities and how to provide robust quality control for diagnostic facilities.
- Treatment: measures to ensure prompt and effective treatment of diagnosed cases. Click here for information on malaria treatment and here for guidance on establishing malaria treatment facilities and severe malaria management guidelines.
- Communication approaches: efforts to increase awareness of and adoption of prevention and case management components in the workforce and communities.
- Surveillance, monitoring and evaluation: sound strategies must be in place to ensure appropriate on-going refinement of programmes and demonstration of impact. Click here for more information on surveillance and use of programme data.
Ideally a programme will also include:
- Capacity building: building the skills, infrastructure and resources of local partners, in particular the local health system to improve the likelihood of sustainable impact
Aside from these components a responsible malaria control programme will also:
- Have a robust exit strategy.
- Work in close partnership with communities at all stages to ensure their full engagement in the plans. This will improve development of appropriate plans and foster community support while moving towards community empowerment.
- Manage community expectations.
- Work in partnership with local health authorities and other well placed stakeholders to access available skills and experience (see below). ICMM’s good practice guidance for malaria includes a more detailed checklist of key activities to be carried out at each stage of the development of a malaria programme.
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Step 5
Examples of successful industry malaria control programmes
Sources of technical support and advice