Promoting Malaria Prevention and Treatment (ProMPT)

ProMPT is working to develop an effective system to distribute long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs). In the Northern Region of Ghana, the project supported door-to-door hang-up campaigns, distributing more than 560,000 LLINs, particularly reaching children under 5 and pregnant women. In 10 districts of the Eastern Region, over 390,000 LLINs were distributed through a door-to-door campaign that aimed for universal coverage (one net for every two household members).

The distribution of LLIN’s is supported by behaviour change and communication (BCC) initiatives intended to promote healthy behaviours, such as increasing antenatal care visits, using long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, and adhering to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) regimens. ProMPT supported the finalisation of a new National Malaria Behavior Change Communication Strategy launched by the Minister of Health of Ghana at 2010 World Malaria Day. The project also included a multi-channel BCC initiative combining mass media, print, interpersonal communication, advocacy, and community drama.

At the community level, the project has engaged Regional and District Health Management Teams in social mobilisation to support LLIN hang-up campaigns through advocacy, volunteer training and outreach, mobile van announcements, and traditional and mass media. Capacity building for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement community-based malaria activities has also taken place, including developing the capacity to carry out participatory learning and action, as well as community mobilisation for malaria prevention and treatment.

ProMPT trains health care providers to develop diagnostics skills and appropriately administer ACTs and intermittent preventive treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women. This has included training health workers on malaria in pregnancy and case management of malaria in the Northern Region, as well as training licensed chemical sellers in 3 regions on the proper use of ACTs in the clinical management of malaria.

Malaria

University Research Co, LLC (URC) is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide, including malaria prevention and control activities. Through a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, URC developed a job aid and training programme to enable volunteer community health workers to use malaria rapid diagnostic tests, sparing patients trips to health facilities and long waits for diagnosis and treatment. These materials have been translated into several languages and are in use in many countries throughout Africa.

According to URC, a six months post-campaign evaluation of LLIN distribution in the Northern region found 96% of LLINs still in households and 73% hanging over a sleeping place. More than 2,000 health workers have been trained on malaria in pregnancy and case management of malaria in the Northern Region, and 726 licensed chemical sellers in 3 regions trained on the proper use of ACTs in the clinical management of malaria.

Ghana was named Lead Innovator for LLIN distribution by the Alliance for Malaria Prevention in February 2011; the award recognised Ghana’s pioneering role in national door-to-door LLIN distribution.