Malaria Champions of the Americas 2017
HAITI AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: BINATIONAL PLAN FOR MALARIA ELIMINATION IN HISPANIOLA ISLAND – OUANAMINTHE-DAJABON PROJECT
PROGRAMME NATIONAL DE CONTRÔLE DE LA MALARIA, HAITI AND CENTRO NACIONAL PARA EL CONTROL DE LAS ENFERMEDADES TROPICALES, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Facilitated during its initial phase by the Carter Center and other partners, Haiti and Dominican Republic implemented a binational project in border areas with increasing population movements and economic activities as a new approach to malaria control and elimination.
The binational efforts successfully lead towards building relationships and harmonizing malaria diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance interventions across the border communities of Ouanaminthe and Dajabon. The project likewise demonstrated innovative use of technology in establishing real-time reporting of malaria data facilitated by tablets and use of GIS; effectively engaged the private sector, traditional healers, mass media, mothers, children, and various other sectors; and affirmed the value of community health workers and a good supervision system in terms of ensuring universal access to early diagnosis and treatment to highly mobile and remote populations and a strong community-based surveillance system.
This malaria champion has set the path to malaria elimination in the Ouanaminthe-Dajabon border and is a remarkable example of a creative response to cultural diversity in a historically and politically sensitive situation that confronts many border areas throughout the Region and globally.
BRAZIL: PROJECT EIRUNEPÉ – “FROM CHAOS TO SURVEILLANCE”
EIRUNEPÉ MUNICIPAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EIRUNEPÉ EIRUNEPE, AMAZONAS
With the objective of ensuring gradual and sustainable reduction of malaria cases and deaths and promoting socio-economic development, the Municipality of Eirunepe in Amazonas, Brazil engaged in relentless efforts towards establishing a local and well sustained system that enables universal access to key malaria interventions.
These include timely and good quality diagnosis, treatment, case investigation, active case detection, and integrated vector management measures; as well as innovative approaches such as floating laboratories, the use of a smartphone app that facilitate treatment decisions and information-sharing, and establishment of the “malaria meter” which fosters transparency and accountability in relation to the targets against malaria.
The work of this champion facilitated the reduction of malaria burden among isolated population groups in logistically challenging areas, from approximately 8,000 cases in 2013 to 126 cases as of October 2017; and presents an outstanding example of a community and health service system that has given enduring high priority to malaria and has successfully navigated the challenges of decentralization through the involvement of various sectors, multiple stakeholders, and by building the capacity of local institutions.
BRAZIL: PARQUE NACIONAL DO JAÚ (PNJ) AMAZONAS PROJECT
INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, FUNDACAO OSWALDO CRUZ (IOC/FIOCRUZ)