DOCSLIB.ORG

Fighting Malaria to Improve Life in Malawi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Fighting Malaria to Improve Life in Malawi The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID. 83605 Samantha Fundingsland and Jacob Fulcher [email protected], [email protected] Fighting Malaria to Improve Life in Malawi Project Objective: Malarial education to improve the quality of life for Malawi, Africa residents. Background: Malawi is one of Africa’s most densely populated countries. The climate in Malawi is subtropical, with the rainy season being from November to April. There are over one million orphans and the average life expectancy is forty years (www.state.gov). Malawi has faced numerous hardships. It is one of the poorest nations in the World and has an alarming amount of health indicators. Health indicators measure the overall effectiveness of a country’s health care system. Malawi is ranked 164th out of 175 nations according to UNDP’s Human Development Index, signifying extremely poor conditions (www.cdc.gov). Mortality rate has increased in Malawi, nearly doubling within the last decade causing over one million deaths each year (www.cdc.gov). One of the main reasons for this is malaria. “Malaria is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in Malawian children under five years of age and is the cause of over 40% of deaths in children under two” (www.psi.org). In Malawi, the malaria vectors are Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae. These mosquitoes bite in the late evening through the early morning, making this the essential time for protection. The population at risk is 100%. Transmission occurs year long, with the peak being during the rainy season. Those at highest risks are children and pregnant women. It is difficult to determine the actual number of individuals infected because many never seek medical treatment. Malaria not only causes major health issues, but economic losses as well that continue to contribute to the country’s poor economy. Most families will spend more than a quarter of their yearly income on treatment for malaria. It is estimated that malaria keeps adults home from work at least twenty-five days a year. This results in not only a loss of income for the family, but also a loss of productivity for the country. Where/Who: The areas of concentration will be Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi as well as regions surrounding Lake Malawi. These areas have been chosen since Lilongwe is the most densely populated and the lake is an area of extremely high malaria transmission. The main outreach will take place within the city limits of Lilongwe, in Msilitza Village. The classes will be held at Faith Christian Academy where all of the surrounding villages will be invited. The school has been chosen as the main meeting quarters because it has already been utilized as a social gathering center for the neighboring villages. Project Description: To improve the quality of health in Malawi, addressing the problem of malaria is essential. This project proposes to not only supply individuals with mosquito nets, but to also offer education on malaria treatments. The education aspect of this project will include bringing in qualified experts such as doctors and nurses from the local clinic. These trained medical personnel will provide malarial education programs to locals. Treatment methods will also be covered, highlighting the importance of following through with treatment plans. The treatment methods to be gone over will include anti-malarial drugs, insecticides, the draining of standing water in homes, and bed nets. Resistance to different malaria medications has increased because many individuals will stop taking the prescription once they begin to feel better. The classes will be offered to nationals The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID. 83605 Samantha Fundingsland and Jacob Fulcher [email protected], [email protected] that will then be trained and able to reach other villages and offer more classes. Other forms of education will include posters and pamphlets with directions for setting up the nets. It is estimated that over 500,000 lives could be saved each year from the use of mosquito nets (www.psi.org). The project will be partnering with an organization called Children of the Nations (COTN) which is set up in the Lilongwe region. COTN is a nonprofit group that works towards improving the lives of orphaned and destitute children and giving them opportunities to grow in a stable environment to become well developed members of the Malawian society. COTN will provide locations for malaria classes as well as assisting in determining which individuals have the greater need for the nets. Transportation and lodging will also be provided through COTN. As the leaders of this project, we will be coordinating the doctors and nurses that come in to give lectures. With the help of COTN, we will be the ones distributing the nets to ensure their delivery. Once the lectures have been given, we will organize groups to go out and reach other areas. Before leaving for the trip, we will print all needed documents, such as the posters and pamphlets and we will contact medical experts in the United States to help us set up course guidelines for the lectures. We will acquire the nets, as well as handle the arrangements for shipping. Future Impacts: This project has been set up with long term goals in mind. It will help to raise awareness on the importance of understanding malaria and how to deal with it. Training locals will ensure that education on malaria will continue and will also be spread throughout the country. An ultimate goal is to be able to teach the locals to make their own mosquito nets to protect the community and also to supply a source of income. Promoting Peace: This project promotes peace by improving the quality of life for many individuals. Malaria has caused countless numbers of Malawians to suffer, whether from their own illness or from the loss of a loved one. It not only has social impacts, but economical impacts as well. Proper treatment of malaria will result in longer life spans and also the ability of adults to be more economically productive. This not only benefits the family, but Malawi as a whole. Economic prosperity will help Malawi to focus on other important aspects of Malawian life and result in positive growth. We believe that our project will promote peace with its success in contributing to an environment of positive and healthy communities who are more able to benefit society on both a local and global scale. Additional Supporters: Children of the Nations 11992 Clear Creek Rd. Silverdale, WA 98383 360-698-7227 Works Cited www.cdc.gov. Malawi. 2004. www.psi.org. Preventing Malaria in Malawi. 2007. www.state.gov. Malawi. 2007. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Malawi Newborn Health Program Final Evaluation Report
    Malawi Newborn Health Program Final Evaluation Report National Level - Expanded Impact Project (with learning activities in the districts of Chitipa, Dowa, Thyolo, Mzimba, Mchinji) Cooperative Agreement No.: GHS-A-00-06-00016-00 30 September 2006 – 30 September 2011 Submitted to USAID/GH/HIDN/NUT/CSHGP December 31, 2011 by: Save the Children Federation, Inc. 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880 Telephone: (203) 221-4000 - Fax: (203) 221-4056 Contact Persons: Eric A. Swedberg, Senior Director, Child Health and Nutrition Carmen Weder, Associate Director, Department of Health & Nutrition Principal writers and editors: John Murray, External Team Leader; Karen Z. Waltensperger, Senior Advisor, Health-Africa Region; Nathalie Gamache, Associate Director, Country Support & Coordination, Saving Newborn Lives; Evelyn Zimba, Malawi Newborn Health Program Manager; Joby George, Senior Health Program Manager; Sharon Lake-Post, Editorial Consultant This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Save the Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Page Acronyms 3 A. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION 5 B. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT STRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENTATION 9 C. EVALUATION ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS 13 D. DATA QUALITY AND USE 14 E. PRESENTATION OF PROJECT RESULTS 17 F. DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS 20 G. DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED OUTCOMES, CONTRIBUTION TO SCALE,
    [Show full text]
  • The Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI) in Malawi: Selected Findings on Health
    The Program on Governance and Local Development The Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI) in Malawi: Selected Findings on Health Report November 2016 SERIES 2016:7 Acknowledgements This project reflects fruitful collaboration of researchers at the Christian Michelson Institute, including Ragnhild Muriaas, Lise Rakner and Vibeke Wang; the Institute for Public Opinion and Research, including Asiyati Chiweza, Boniface Dulani, Happy Kayuni, Hannah Swila and Atusaye Zgambo; and the Program on Governance and Local Development, including Adam Harris, Kristen Kao, Ellen Lust, Maria Thorson, Jens Ewald, Petter Holmgren, Pierre Landry and Lindsay Benstead during implementation, and in addition Ruth Carlitz, Sebastian Nickel, Benjamin Akinyemi, Laura Lungu and Tove Wikehult in the process of data cleaning and analysis. We gratefully recognize the hard work of colleagues at the Institute for Public Opinion and Research who lead the survey research teams. These include, Ellasy Chimimba, Grace Gundula, Steve Liwera, Shonduri Manda, Alfred Mangani, Razak Mussa, Bernard Nyirenda, Charles Sisya and Elizabeth Tizola. We also thank Jane Steinberg, who provided excellent and timely editing of this report. Finally, we reserve special recognition for Laura Lungu and Kristen Kao, who led this report. This project has been made possible with the financial support of the Moulay Hicham Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The World Bank and Yale University, which funded development of the Local Governance Performance Index, and the Swedish Research Council and the Research Council of Norway, which funded implementation in Norway. We are grateful for their support. Executive Summary Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Gross national income per capita is just $747 U.S.,1 and nearly 51 percent of the population resides below the national poverty line.2 As such, much of the population suffers from health ailments.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis.Pdf (2.125Mb)
    Femteårsoppgave i Stadium IV, profesjonsstudiet i medisin Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet Universitetet i Tromsø 9019 Tromsø Malaria in Malawi The current status of diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of malaria in Malawi, how international and national guidelines can improve the situation, and how research can change these guidelines for the future The sun sets over Lake Malawi Authors Marte Langsrud Stine Haram Vetle Nilsen Malmberg [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] MK-08 MK-08 MK-08 Supervisors Dr Jon Øyvind Odland Dr Kamija Phiri [email protected] [email protected] Universitetet i Tromsø University of Malawi Tromsø, June 2013 Table of Contents 1 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. 2 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3 4 Method ............................................................................................................................................ 5 5 Theory .............................................................................................................................................. 6 5.1 Malaria....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mise En Page 1
    The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations is the global non-profit NGO representing the research-based pharmaceutical industry, Woman & Child Health Partnerships including the biotech and vaccine sectors. Its members comprise leading international companies and national and regional industry associations covering for the Developing World low, middle and high income countries. The industry’s R&D pipeline contains hundreds of new medicines and vaccines being developed to address global disease threats, including cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and malaria. The IFPMA In support of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Clinical Trials Portal, the IFPMA’s Ethical Promotion of Medicine online resource and its Developing World Health Partnerships Directory help make the industry’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, activities more transparent. The IFPMA supports a wide range of WHO technical activities, notably those relating to medicine efficacy, quality and safety. It also “Every Woman, Every Chil d” provides the secretariat for the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). September 2011 ) N E ( 1 - 9 2 0 0 Chemin Louis-Dunant 15 Tel: +41 22 338 32 00 - P A P.O. Box 195 Fax: +41 22 338 32 99 M P F I 1211 Geneva 20 E-mail: [email protected] 1 1 0 Switzerland Web: www.ifpma.org 2 © Woman & Child Health Partnerships for the Developing World In support of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s
    [Show full text]
  • Local Perceptions, Participation and Accountability in Malawi's Health
    Evaluation Department Local Perceptions, Participation and Accountability in Malawi’s Health Sector Report 2/2013 Norad Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation P.O.Box 8034 Dep, NO-0030 Oslo Ruseløkkveien 26, Oslo, Norway Tel: +47 23 98 00 00 Fax: +47 23 98 00 99 Photo: Serufusa Sekidde Design: Siste Skrik Kommunikasjon Print: Network Broking/Bjerch Trykkeri ISBN: 978-82-7548-774-0 Local Perceptions, Participation and Accountability in Malawi’s Health Sector May 2013 Oxford Policy Management The report is the product of its authors, and responsibility for the accuracy of data included in this report rests with the authors. The findings, interpretations and conclusions presented do not necessarily reflect the views of Norad Evaluation Department. Note on layout and language The layout of the document has tried to conform to guidelines for accessibility and ease of reading, which require Arial font and left (not full) justification of the text. The report has tried to avoid unnecessary use of acronyms and abbreviations. Disclaimer: The report is the product of its authors, and responsibility for the accuracy of data included in this report rests with the authors. The findings, interpretations and conclusions presented do not necessarily reflect the views of Norad Evaluation Department. Acknowledgements This report was produced by a team comprising Stephen Jones (Team Leader), Andrew Kardan (Project Manager), Maja Jakobsen and Dr Serufusa Sekidde from Oxford Policy Management (OPM), Professor Susan Watkins, Dr Blessings Chinsinga, and Dr Angela Chimwaza, in partnership with Invest in Knowledge in Malawi (IKI). James Mkandawire managed the IKI fieldwork team and also provided a great deal of technical input throughout the project.
    [Show full text]
  • Internal Migrations and Health in Senegal: Healthy Migrant Or Convergence Hypothesis Duboz Priscilla, Boëtsch Gilles, Gueye Lamine, Macia Enguerran
    Internal migrations and health in senegal: Healthy migrant or convergence hypothesis Duboz Priscilla, Boëtsch Gilles, Gueye Lamine, Macia Enguerran To cite this version: Duboz Priscilla, Boëtsch Gilles, Gueye Lamine, Macia Enguerran. Internal migrations and health in senegal: Healthy migrant or convergence hypothesis. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, SAGE Publications, 2020. hal-03052366 HAL Id: hal-03052366 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03052366 Submitted on 10 Dec 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health 2020 VOL 10, NO. 3, PAGE 34-47 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Acess Internal migrations and health in senegal: Healthy migrant or convergence hypothesis Duboz Priscilla*, Boëtsch Gilles, Gueye Lamine, Macia Enguerran Department of Medicine, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal ARTICLE HISTORY ABSTRACT Received:August 24, 2020 Objective:The general objective of this study is to characterize the migrant population Accepted:September 7, 2020 Published:September 14, 2020 present in Dakar, and to test the existence in Senegal of the Healthy Migrant Hypothesis and the Convergence Hypothesis. KEYWORDS Methods: This study was carried out in 2015 on a population sample of 1000 Africa; Self-rated health; individuals living in Dakar, constructed using the quota method.
    [Show full text]
  • Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Malawi: a Synthesis of Research Evidence
    Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Malawi: A Synthesis of Research Evidence Alister C. Munthali, Agnes Chimbiri and Eliya Zulu Occasional Report No. 15 December 2004 Acknowledgments Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in technic, College of Medicine and our own documenta- Malawi: A Synthesis of Research Evidence was written tion center at the Centre for Social Research. We would by Alister C. Munthali (Centre for Social Research, like to thank the staff in these libraries for all the sup- University of Malawi, Malawi), Agnes Chimbiri port they gave us. (Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine, The research for this report was conducted under Malawi) and Eliya Zulu (African Population and The Alan Guttmacher Institute's project Protecting the Health Research Centre, Kenya). Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk Among This synthesis report is a result of the support that Youth, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates we received from many people. At The Alan Foundation. Guttmacher Institute, we are very grateful to Akinri- Suggested citation: Munthali AC, Chimbiri A and nola Bankole, Ann Biddlecom and Susheela Singh, Zulu E, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in who thoroughly read the report and provided very use- Malawi: A Synthesis of Research Evidence, Occasion- ful and constructive comments. We would also like to al Report, New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, thank Dixie Maluwa-Banda of the University of 2004, No. 15. Malawi and Nyovani Madise of the University of Southampton for having
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening Primary Health Care at District-Level in Malawi-Determining
    Makaula et al. BMC Health Services Research (2019) 19:509 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4341-5 RESEARCHARTICLE Open Access Strengthening primary health care at district-level in Malawi - determining the coverage, costs and benefits of community- directed interventions Peter Makaula1* , Mathias Funsanani1, Kondwani Chidzammbuyo Mamba2,3, Janelisa Musaya3 and Paul Bloch4 Abstract Background: Community-Directed Interventions (CDI) is a participatory approach for delivery of essential healthcare services at community level. It is based on the values and principles of Primary Health Care (PHC). The CDI approach has been used to improve the delivery of services in areas that have previously applied Community-Directed Treatment with ivermectin (CDTi). Limited knowledge is available about its added value for strengthening PHC services in areas without experience in CDTi. This study aimed to assess how best to use the CDI approach to strengthen locally identified PHC services at district level. Methods: This was a comparative intervention study carried out over a period of 12 months and involving four health centres and 16 villages assigned to 1) a conventional Essential Health Package (EHP)/PHC approach at health centre level or 2) an EHP/PHC/CDI approach at community level in addition to EHP/PHC at health centre level. Communities decided which intervention components to be included in the intervention. These were home management of malaria (HMM), long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN), vitamin A and treatment against schistosomiasis. The outcomes of the two strategies were compared quantitatively after the intervention was completed with regard to intervention component coverage and costs. Qualitative in-depth interviews with involved health professionals, implementers and beneficiaries were carried out to determine the benefits and challenges of applied intervention components.
    [Show full text]
  • MINISTRY of HEALTH Infection Control and Waste Management Plan for Malawi
    SFG1928 V3 GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MINISTRY OF HEALTH SOUTHERN AFRICA TUBERCULOSIS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS SUPPORT PROJECT Infection Control and Waste Management Plan for Malawi 14 March, 2016 GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MINISTRY OF HEALTH SOUTHERN AFRICA TUBERCULOSIS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS SUPPORT PROJECT Infection Control and Waste Management Plan for Malawi KENT KAFATIA Water Waste and Environment Consultants (WWEC) P.O. Box 31271 Capital City, LILONGWE 3 MALAWI Tel +265 888831596; +265 999831595; +265 111 97 83 77 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] i | P a g e Contents LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... vi ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... viii 1.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Global level .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Macroeconomics and Health in Malawi
    W HO/SDE/CMH/04.6 Macroeconomics and Health in Malawi: W hat W ay Forward Alessandro Conticini1 September 2004 W orld Health Organization 1 Consultant, Macroeconomics and Health, W HO Geneva Table of Contents Sum m ary 4 1. Introduction 11 1.1 Summary of the Macroeconomic and Health Report 11 1.1.1 The Conclusions of the Report 11 1.1.2 The Recommendations of the Report 12 1.2 Macroeconomic and Health in Malawi 13 1.3 Objective of the Mission to Malawi and ToR of the Study 13 1.4 Data Source and Methodology 14 2. The Malawian Context 16 2.1 Demography and Vital Statistics 16 2.2 Health Situation and Disease Burden 16 2.2.1 Disease Burden 17 2.2.2 HIV/AIDS 18 2.2.3 TB 19 2.2.4 Malaria 19 2.2.5 Diarrhoeal diseases and cholera 20 2.2.6 Other communicable diseases 20 2.2.7 Non communicable diseases 20 2.3 Human Resources in the Health Sector 20 2.4 Poverty 21 2.4.1 Key causes of Poverty 22 2.5 Correlation between Health and Poverty in Malawi 25 2.5.1 Correlation between Child Survival and Poverty 26 2.5.2 Correlation between Child Nutritional Status and Poverty 27 2.5.3 Correlation between Morbidity and Poverty 27 2.5.4 Correlation between Immunization and Poverty 28 2.5.5 Observations and further Analysis on Poverty and Health 29 in Malawi 2.5.6 Inequality Issues 32 2.5.7 Gender Differences 34 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Malawi National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS 2015
    2015 - 2020 National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS i | Page ii | Page © 2014 National AIDS Commission P.O. Box 30622 Lilongwe 3 Malawi Telephone: +265 (1) 770 022 Fax: +265 (1) 776 249 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aidsmalawi.org.mw All rights reserved The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The National AIDS Commission encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request to the Executive Director, National AIDS Commission. iii | Page DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS Adherence Adverse drug events Community Systems Health System Health System Strengthening Key Population Mentoring Public Health Approach Task-shifting Vulnerable Population ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AIDS: Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome ART: Antiretroviral Therapy CHAM: Christian Health Association of Malawi CSO: Civil Society Organization CSS: Community Systems Strengthening DAC: District AIDS Committee EHP: Essential Health Package EID: Early Infant Diagnosis EMHS: Essential Medicines and Health Supplies EWI: Early Warning Indicators FBO: Faith Based Organization FTE: Full Time Equivalent HIV: Human Immune Deficiency Virus HSA: Health Surveillance Assistant HSS: Health Systems Strengthening HTC: HIV Testing and Counselling Ihris: Human Resources Information System KP: Key Population KVP:
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of a Community Based Project to Reduce Malaria and Diarrhea Incidence in Kwitanda, Malawi July 2010
    Kwitanda Community Health: Evaluation of a community based project to reduce malaria and diarrhea incidence in Kwitanda, Malawi July 2010 2 Acknowledgements VillageReach would like to thank the District Health Office of Balaka, Malawi and the staff of the Kwitanda Health Centre, including the Health Surveillance Assistants who collected the data, for their support and hard work for the evaluation. Without the tireless efforts of these staff and the support of the Ministry of Health, the project would not be possible. We also extend our gratitude to Kim Davy, Erica Jacoby, and Brian Jacoby for their efforts in the preparations and implementation of the data collection. The analysis and report would not have been possible without the contributions of the reviewers including Carol McLaughlin of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania, Andrea Stone and Aaron Katz at the University of Washington, and Dr. Mark Kane. Finally, we thank the project donor for the generous support and commitment to the health and development of the Kwitanda community. 3 Executive Summary Despite knowledge of proven interventions to reduce the burden of preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria and diarrhea, these diseases continue to be among the top contributors to early mortality in much of the developing world. In an effort to strengthen the prevention and treatment efforts in Malawi, VillageReach, an international nongovernmental organization based in Seattle, implemented a community based health program. The program includes a comprehensive package of interventions aimed at improving prevention and treatment of malaria and diarrhea through the distribution of existing cost-effective preventive measures such as insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and building of boreholes for clean water, management and strengthening of an existing community health worker network, and providing infrastructure support for the Kwitanda Health Center and community.
    [Show full text]