AMREF Afar Malaria Prevention Project
Malaria is a major public health
problem in the Afar region of
north-eastern Ethiopia.
The region is almost entirely
malarious and, as in the rest of
Ethiopia, malaria is highly seasonal
with great variation from year to
year, leaving the population with
little protective immunity. Malaria is
the leading cause of morbidity and
mortality in the country, and has the
largest economic impact of all
communicable diseases in the
region.
AMREF launched a 5-year malaria
intervention project in the Afar
region in 2005, funded by CIDA,
Addax Petroleum Foundation and
AMREF Netherlands, for malaria
prevention, control and elimination.
The primary objectives of the
project were to increase coverage
of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs),
develop and utilize participatory
communication tools to ensure high
ITN retention and utilization rates,
improve the ability to recognize the
signs and symptoms of severe and
uncomplicated malaria, and to
prompt treatment-seeking
behaviour.
AMREF supported the distribution
of 145,000 ITNs in the region,
targeting the most vulnerable
groups -pregnant women and
children- in particular, along with
training on the proper use of bed
nets to prevent malaria. The project
developed innovative approaches
to bring about behavioural changes
in the community, including the use
of “mother coordinators” as
community-based health promoters
who educate community members
on the importance of prevention
and control by visiting households
door-to-door. Along with this
widespread education campaign,
the quality of case management
was improved in the health facilities
by introducing microscope use for a
more accurate diagnosis of malaria
than the previous clinical
observation methods.
AMREF's interventions have
resulted in a significant
improvement in ITN ownership and
knowledge on the transmission of
malaria, as well as an increase in
the proportion of people sleeping
under nets each night. Treatment-
seeking behaviour for children
under five has also improved with
the percentage of sick children
taking anti-malaria drugs rising from
Results
reduced morbidity by 62%
reduced mortality by 41%
beneficiaries reached 350,000
9% to 53% over the course of the
project.
In total, AMREF was able to reach
more than 27% of the total
population of Afar (350,000 people)
and decrease morbidity and
mortality due to malaria by over
20% (morbidity from 62% in
2004/05 to 41% in 2009/10 and
mortality from 24.7% in 2004/05 to
2% in 2009/10).
Training Sessions:

Participants of Health Extension Worker

training in Awash

Beneficiary demonstrating proper ITN use

Refresher course for Mother

Coordinators, March, 2010

Mother Coordinators rehearsing how to teach mothers
using PMPT toolkit