NMCC News Archive
Football and Malaria Campaign Continues on Offense
African malaria control programmes, businesses, football associations and NGOs from eleven countries met recently in Accra, Ghana for the United Against Malaria (UAM) Africa Partners Conference.
During the three-day gathering participants discussed campaign successes to date and plans going toward the 2010 World Cup and beyond. Zambia was hailed as a global leader in malaria control though NMCC’s Principal IEC Officer, Pauline Wamulume, cautioned against complacency. “Now is not the time to back down but to keep the pressure on. By doing so we are confident that we will win the fight against malaria,” said Ms Wamulume, who led the local delegation.
United Against Malaria taps the energy and passion of football to share lifesaving messages on malaria. The Zambian campaign was launched last year by the Minister of Health, Hon. Kampembwa Simbao, and Chipolopolo Boys captain, Chris Katongo. In addition to the Ministry of Health, local UAM partners include Manzi Valley, Zambeef, Shoprite, Zambian Breweries, Beauty Magazine, Alive & Kicking and MACEPA.
Mwinilunga Chief’s exchange visit
The Ministry of Health, through the NMCC, provides lifesaving malaria commodities—treated mosquito nets, medicines, and indoor spraying. But to ensure these measures are used (and used properly), the NMCC has developed a strategy of engaging community leaders as advocates in the fight against malaria. This includes community radio, religious leaders, chiefs, and, beginning later this year, ward councillors.
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Recently Chief Ntambu in Mwinilunga hosted a gathering of traditional leaders to share the important role they play in preventing malaria. Their influence in communities makes them well-placed to promote matters of health. "Our traditional leaders,” said Dr. Solomon Musonda, Deputy Minister of Health, “play a significant role in Zambian society by ensuring that our people live healthier lives from diseases such as malaria. It is therefore fitting that the fight against malaria in Zambia should embrace our traditional leaders.”
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Chief Ntambu has significantly reduced malaria in his chiefdom by mandating the use of treated mosquito nets even for those sleeping away from home by their fields; by applying penalties when people are caught using these nets for fishing; and by encouraging pregnant mothers to receive preventive medicine.
This exchange meeting was a follow-up to an orientation for traditional leaders held in Lusaka in 2007. Twelve chiefs attended the Mwinilunga event, including the immediate past Chairman of the House of Chiefs, Chief Mumena.
NMCC hosts third annual Malaria Media Awards
The National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC) hosted the third annual Malaria Media Awards, an event that looked back at a year’s worth of media coverage and recognized those making outstanding contributions to the field.
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The Minister of Health, Hon. Kampembwa Simbao, MP, was the guest of honour. Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Solomon Musonda, and the Director of Public Health and Research, Dr. Victor Mukonka. As part of his remarks Minister Simbao addressed the assembled journalists directly: “We are all winners in this fight—the recognized efforts of one ultimately translate into survival for all. The fact that you were able to write articles and produce programmes on malaria also makes you worthy champions of the cause to rid Zambia of malaria.”
This year’s winners:
- First place print: Bivan Saluseki, The Post, for his creative article, “Fighting Malaria with Mosquito Nets.”
- Second place print: Charles Chisala, Zambia Daily Mail, for his article, “Right Forces, Ammo Deployed Against Malaria.”
- First place radio: Bibian Mwale, Radio Christian Voice, for her malaria feature that looked at public awareness and rapid testing for the disease.
- Second place radio: Emmanuel Mulenga. His programme on prevention of malaria in pregnancy and in children aired on Joy FM.
- The management and staff of the Zambia Daily Mail received a plaque for its investment and high-profiling of malaria in the five-day series, “A Malaria-Free Zambia.”
- Finally, Daily Mail Sports Editor Diana Zulu, who died in December, was recognized for her efforts in advancing health reporting in Zambia.
NMCC publishes second M&E newsletter
The latest issue of the NMCC Monitoring & Evaluation newsletter is now available and can be downloaded here. Previous issues of the newsletter can be found on the NMCC Publications page.
The NMCC M&E newsletter reports on malaria control news andprogress, data gathering activities, partner work, and more. We encourage you to contact us at me@nmcc.org.zm with ideas, success stories and features relevant for sharing with the national malaria M&E community
Malaria media award - call for entries
The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce the annual media award competition for the best coverage of malaria by Zambian journalists. For the past three years the Ministry, through the National Malaria Control Centre, has recognized outstanding media coverage of malaria.
We welcome entries from print media, radio, television and photography. Entries should have been published or broadcast in Zambia between January and December 2009.
Note: the deadline for entries is 17hrs on 15 January 2010. Please submit your entry in person or through the post to:
National Malaria Control Centre
Chainama Hill Hospital Grounds, Great East Road
PO Box 32509
Lusaka
The prizes, venue and date of the award ceremony will be announced soon. For more information, please see the malaria media awards advert that appeared recently in the newspapers.
World Malaria Report highlights progress in Zambia
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) released their 2009 World Malaria Report. Please see these links for the press release and summary of key findings. The full report is available here.
This report demonstrates that Zambia continues to be a world leader in preventing and controlling malaria. In 2005 the Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Centre, launched an ambitious agenda to fight and defeat this preventable disease on a national scale. We continue to see the benefits of this investment for Zambians, our communities and our national development.
We are proud to again have a high profile in the fight against malaria. At the same time, we know this is not the time to relax against this disease. In addition to maintaining the levels of proven commodities—treated mosquito nets, indoor spraying, diagnostics, preventive and lifesaving medicines—the national programme and its partners are working hard to achieve a malaria-free Zambia. This includes
innovative measures
such as testing and treating for malaria at community level by trained community health workers.
Highlights of the report released today include:
- “There is evidence from Sao Tome and Principe, Zanzibar and Zambia that large decreases in malaria cases and deaths have been mirrored by steep declines in all-cause deaths among children less than 5 years of age, suggesting that intensive efforts at malaria control could help many African countries to reach, by 2015, a two-thirds reduction in child mortality as set forth in the MDGs.”
- “In Zambia, child mortality rates from all causes fell by 35%, as measured both by the number of deaths recorded in health facilities and by < 5 mortality rates derived from the Demographic and Health Survey of 2007. These trends, if confirmed in non-island countries, suggest that intensive malaria control could help many African countries to reach, by 2015, a two-thirds reduction in child mortality, as set forth in the Millennium Development Goals.
NMCC publishes first Monitoring & Evaluation newsletter
The NMCC M&E newsletter reports on malaria control news and progress, data gathering activities, partner work, and more. The NMCC hopes the newsletter - first published in November - will stimulate discussion and the sharing of ideas for reporting on progress in malaria control activities around the country. We encourage you to contact us at me@nmcc.org.zm with ideas, success stories and features relevant for sharing with the national malaria M&E community.
You can download the M&E newsletter here.
Counting Malaria Out in Zambia
The World Malaria Day theme this year was “Counting Malaria Out” in recognition of the short amount of time we have to achieve two critical targets: the 2010 Roll Back Malaria target of universal coverage and the Millennium Development Goals related to reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating malaria. In Zambia the nation’s main commemoration took place in Katete, Eastern Province.
Large turnout in Katete for World Malaria Day activities
The Katete event focused on malaria interventions aimed directly at the people of Katete. Dignitaries in attendance there included Guest of Honour Hon. Kapembwa Simbao, Minister of Health; Paramount Chief Gawa Undi Chilombo; Mr Michael Koplovsky, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy; Dr Olusegun Babaniyi, WHO country representative; and Roll Back Malaria representative Dr. Vonai Teveredze.
Minister Simbao announced during his speech that Zambia had attained one of the 2010 RBM targets: reducing malaria deaths by 66 percent as announced recently by the World Health Organization. “Every Zambian should have access to highly effective malaria control interventions,” said Minister Simbao. “Your government wants to make sure you have care as close to your house as possible so that we may attain a malaria-free Zambia.”
The community turned out in large numbers as the speakers encouraged them to sleep under a treated bed net every night, go for immediate testing and treatment if malaria is suspected, allow their homes to be sprayed, and for pregnant women to take preventive medicine. These commodities and services are free at government clinics, and increasingly nets, testing, and treatment are being made available at household level by trained community health workers.
Rapid malaria tests administered to Katete residents
After the speeches and entertainment by a school band, child poets and traditional dancers, many of the dignitaries had their fingers pricked by trained community health workers who then administered rapid diagnostic tests for malaria. (Minister Simbao, pictured below, tested negative.)
All community members were encouraged to also be tested for malaria, and the testing lines were deep. Everyone who was tested received enough long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to protect their family, in support of the national target to provide three LLINs per household to achieve universal coverage. Eleven thousand treated bednets were distributed in Katete as part of the World Malaria Day activities.
Katete’s celebration demonstrated the power of the community in the fight against malaria as evidenced by the presence of Paramount Chief Chilombo, the volume of the people at the site and importantly the large numbers that agreed to be tested. To defeat malaria in this country—to begin counting down toward a malaria-free Zambia—communities, families and individuals must play an active role in preventing this preventable disease.
ITN distribution update
Malaria is a disease spread by the female Anopheles mosquito. She is active at nighttime so one of the best defenses against her bite—when the malaria-causing parasite is injected into your blood—is to sleep under a treated mosquito net. The mosquito, attracted by your warmth and your breath, lands on the net and picks up the insecticide that will kill her.
Since 2002 the National Malaria Programme (NMCP) has distributed over 6 million treated bed nets. The challenge now is to maintain the high coverage of nets and increase usage: ensure that the distributed nets are hanging in households and encourage people to sleep under them every night. The National Programme recently released insecticide treated net (ITN) guidelines for their distribution and utilization.
The National Programme is committed to increase both the coverage and use of treated bed nets as evidenced by the following recent activities.
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Workers after loading the NMCC truck with bales of ITNs |
Staff from the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Control Centre recently loaded two flatbed trucks with over 15,000 nets. From Lusaka the nets were trucked to the District Health Management Team in Mkushi to support ITN distribution. One of the trucks continued north from Mkushi to Luapula Province, the province hardest hit with malaria. There ITNs stored in Kawambwa District were distributed to other Luapula DHMTs in support of active case detection activities (house to house testing and treating for the malaria parasite, and ensuring that households have enough nets in good condition and hanging properly). The NMCP also delivered ITNs to Katete, Luangwa and Chongwe districts.
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Dr. Chizema hands ITNs to Lizzy Manyima |
The National Malaria Control Centre is located on the Chainama Hospital Grounds and we were recently alerted to a need for ITNs at nearby Chainama Clinic. Dr. Elizabeth Chizema, Deputy Director of Public Health and Research, Malaria, presented 30 nets to Acting in Charge Lizzy Manyima. The nets have been hung in the maternity ward as demonstrated by midwife Mary Phiri.
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Midwife Mary Phiri demonstrates how to hang a bednet |
In Chilubi District the National Programme is piloting a communications campaign aimed at reducing the misuse of ITNs. Beginning last year stakeholder meetings have convened involving the Chilubi DHMT, religious leaders, village headmen, police, business leaders, local authorities, Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives, ZANIS, teachers and community health workers. From their recommendations a campaign was designed to enlist community leaders and community health workers (neighbourhood health committee members and malaria agents conducting household visits), and to use drama and drum groups and mobile video units.
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Chilubi stakeholder meeting |
On Chilubi Island the biggest concern are reports of ITNs being used for fishing; the campaign is focused on fishing camps at Muchinshi, Kawena and Nsumbu. Messages will center on the importance of protecting your family from malaria; the role of ITNs in preventing the disease (but only if they are hung in the home and slept under every night); how ITNs damage fishing areas by sweeping up very small fish; and that fishing with ITNs is illegal and violators will be prosecuted.
Ministry of Health trains religious leaders
The Ministry of Health, together with the Anglican Council, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) and the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), is conducting provincial-level orientations for religious leaders.
Chabu Idan Emmanuel, a lab technician with the National Malaria Control Centre, prepares to conduct rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for malaria. On the last day of the orientation, many of the religious leaders volunteered to have their blood tested for the malaria parasite. A pastor from Luapula—the province worst hit by malaria—tested positive and began the appropriate treatment, Coartem, before returning home where he finished the entire course of medicine. |
The Ministry has distributed the tools needed to fight malaria nationwide: treated bed nets, preventive medicine for pregnant women, the insecticides and trained operators for indoor spraying, and effective treatments for those suffering from the disease. But malaria will only be defeated in Zambia if these lifesaving tools are put into use. To sensitize the population, the Ministry of Health, through the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), has launched an ambitious plan to enlist community leaders, including traditional leaders, ward councilors and religious leaders, in the fight against the disease. The influence of religious leaders and the reach of religious institutions can serve as a vehicle for sharing messages that save lives.
Recently the NMCP conducted an orientation officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Mwendoi Akakandelwa, for religious leaders at the Mulungushi Village Complex in Lusaka. Seventy-plus leaders from a variety of faiths attended and learned the basic facts about malaria, including how to prevent, control and treat the disease. Most importantly, the participants explored the role of their faith communities and their positions of leadership in helping to reach those most vulnerable to malaria: children, pregnant women and the chronically ill.
Ministry of Health begins data analysis trainings
The Ministry of Health, with support from Harvard University; the Malaria Consortium; the World Bank; and the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), are rolling out district level trainings on malaria data analysis for planning and decision-making. These workshops are designed to review and update existing routine malaria information, including health facility-based malaria case reporting and distribution of malaria interventions delivered through health facilities and communities.
Participants at a provincial training in Livingstone, where all districts from Southern Province were represented. |
By examining the relationship between health facility attendance and the application of malaria interventions, district health offices and health facilities are able to understand the successes and continued challenges of their efforts to control malaria at local levels. The National Malaria Control Programme hopes to continue rolling these trainings out in all nine provinces throughout 2009.
2008 National Malaria Indicator Survey: Full report available
Results from the 2008 National Malaria Indicator Survey demonstrated that Zambia is making dramatic progress in its fight to control malaria. Since 2006, malaria parasite prevalence in children under age five has been cut in half, and cases of anemia in this same age group have been reduced by 60 percent. The full 2008 report is now available, as well as a fact sheet summarizing the findings. *Read the press release for additional information.
Minister Chituwo announces preliminary 2008 MIS results
Minister of Health Brian Chituwo announced the preliminary results of Zambia's 2008 malaria indicator survey (MIS) in Lusaka in September 2008.
Read the press release for additional information.
Recent peer-reviewed journal articles by NMCC staff
A cost-effectiveness analysis of artemether lumefantrine for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Zambia