Against Malaria Foundation LLIN Distribution Programme – Detailed Information

Summary

# of LLINS Country Location When By whom

LSH&TM, West Mamprusi Health Research 2,500 District of Mar-Apr08 Centre/ Northern Ghana District Health Management Team

Further Information

1. Please describe the specific locations & villages to receive nets and the number to each? Please provide longitude/latitude information. (Important note: If the distribution is approved, approval will be for the nets to be distribution to these specific locations. Location changes will only be considered, and may be refused, if due to exceptional/unforeseen circumstances.) West of Northern Ghana Subdistricts: Kubori, Kpasenkpe, Yipabongo, Janga, Walewale The selection of villages within the area is yet to be made, as this is dependent on discussions between the project teams and village representatives. AMF will be informed of the names of the villages participating in the study and their geographic coordinates as soon as this has been confirmed.

2. Is this an urban or rural area and how many people live in this specific area? 1 Urban (Walewale) sub-district with a total population of 56,000. 4 Rural (Kubori, Kpasenkpe, Yipabongo, Janga) sub- districts with a total population of 84,000.

3. Is this a high risk malaria area? If yes, why do you designate it as high? Yes. Very high morbidity of malaria. Malaria represents the number one cause of OPD attendance at the health facilities.

4. How many reported cases of malaria and malaria deaths were there in this area in 2005? If you do not have statistics please make a qualitative comment. 2005: 12,914 malaria cases and 20 malaria deaths

5. Is this distribution of nets ‘blanket coverage’ of an area/village or to a select/vulnerable group? If the latter, please describe this group. These nets will be given to children under 5 years of age in villages where a research project on use of LLIN’s and Intermittent Preventive Treatment will be undertaken. We expect to give LLIN’s to about 2,500 children under 5.

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6. What is the existing level of ITN use in this area? Are there existing bednet distribution programmes in this area? Existing ITN use not known although there is an existing bednet distribution programme. The villages selected under this current programme will be such that there is no duplication of effort with ongoing distribution programmes.

7. Why was the area/villages chosen for bednet distribution and who made this decision? Please provide the name, position and organisation of the person/s making the decision. The area has high malaria morbidity, is a deprived district and has high seasonal malaria transmission from July - Oct. Site selection was made by the project team lead by Dr Abraham Hogson, Director, Navrongo Health Research Centre and co-PI on the study.

8. Have you consulted with the National Malaria Programme in your country about this distribution and what was their response? Please provide the name, position and contact details of the person/s with whom you have liaised. Yes discussions have taken place with the NMCP Manager who is aware of the proposed study: Mrs Constance Bart-Plange, National Malaria Control Programme Manager, Ghana Health Service, , Ghana.

9. Please describe any pre-distribution activity, in particular how the size of the target group and number of nets required will be ascertained? The population of under 5’s is 24,284. 2,500 of these would be issued nets via the proposed study. Nets will be distributed to those giving their consent to participate in the programme and take part in the net usage evaluation exercise.

10. Please describe how the bednets will be distributed, by whom, whether distribution will be a focussed effort or part of a combined programme and if there will be an information/education component to the distribution? Please indicate over what time period (typically, the number of days or weeks) the distribution will occur. Distribution will occur during the rainy season. Study participants and their parents will be given guidance and education on bed net use prior to and during the distribution programme which will utilise community health nurses, community based surveillance volunteers, health extension officers, teachers, chiefs, village health committees and field workers. LLINS will initially be distributed to sub- districts in order that a simultaneous distribution to beneficiaries can occur over an 8 week period.

11. What post-distribution follow-up is planned to assess the level of usage (hang-up percentage) of the nets? How long after the distribution will this assessment take place? Will you provide us with the findings? What will you be able to do subsequently to increase net hang-up if relevant? The percentage of nets in use compared to those distributed will be ascertained by follow-up visits. AMF will be provided

Page 2 of 3 with the results. Ongoing education on bednet use will be provided before, during and after distribution.

12. Please give the name and contact information for the (government) head of the district health management team for the/each area. Please ensure you include contact information. Dr Francis Ali Soah, District Health Administration, P.O. Box 20, Walewale. N/R. Ghana Tel: +233 244 483 442; e-mail: no email address.

13. Please confirm the nets will be distributed free-to-recipients, a requirement for us to fund nets. Yes. LLINs will be distributed free-to-recipients.

14. Please confirm you will send us, post-distribution, at least 40 digital photos per sub-location, taken at the distribution/s, to be added to our website as we report on the distribution to donors.* NHRC will be able to provide AMF with photos of net distributions as they take place but cannot guarantee to provide photos which focus on identifiable individuals or their parents as this will require the subjects consent and clearance from the ethics committee.

15. Please indicate if you will be able to provide video footage from each sub- location. This is not mandatory but is preferred and aids reporting to donors and encourages further donor giving.* NHRC will make every effort to provide video footage from each sub-location/district, however, this can not at the present time be guaranteed until issues surrounding consent and ethical clearance have been resolved.

16. Please confirm you will send a Post-Distribution Summary when the distribution is complete.* A post-distribution summary will be sent to AMF once the LLIN distribution is complete.

17. Please provide your name, role and organisation and full contact information. Dr Abudulai Adams Forgor, Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O.Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana. Email: forabdulai AT yahoo.com

*Information on providing photos, video and a Post-distribution Summary is included in the attached document.

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