Hope for Future Generations supports malaria control activities
The Hope for Future Generations, a gender and health-based advocacy organisation, is leading a consortium of three local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRAD) and Youth Development, Research and Innovation Centre (YOUDRIC) to embark on a nationwide advocacy campaign towards mobilising domestic resources for malaria control activities in the country.
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Sponsored by the UKAID, the consortium, as part of the project, is implementing Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) interventions aimed at changing the attitudes and behaviours of both healthcare service providers and health seekers towards testing all suspected malaria cases before treatment and to promote utilisation of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) by all households in Ghana.
The project, dubbed ‘Advocacy for Resources for Malaria Stoppage (ARMS) initiative’, is focused on advocating increased local government funding for malaria activities in a bid to reduce malaria cases.
Malaria advocacy project
According to a release issued by HFFG to mark the World Malaria Day (WMD) which was observed on April 25, the project used modern and evidence-based advocacy and BCC strategies to mobilise local stakeholders to support malaria interventions.
It said it was expected that by end of the project period in June 2017, the two main objectives, which were testing prior to malaria treatment and tracking (expected to increase by 10 per cent in all 10 regions where the project is implemented), and the formation and operationalisation of District Malaria Advocacy Groups in 25 per cent of districts in Ghana, would have been achieved.
So far, the release said, the consortium was implementing the project in 70 districts in all the 10 regions of the country.
Activities
The release enumerated some activities implemented, targeted at local level policy makers, health seekers and health care service providers with the project’s key advocacy and BCC key messages, to include the formation and orientation of additional District Malaria Advocacy Groups and community malaria ambassadors, organising community durbars/video shows, house-to-house sensitisation, dawn-to-dusk sensitisation using community information centres, radio discussion programmes, airing of BCC jingles, orientation for media personnel and monitoring and supportive supervision visits.
So far, it said, 1,389,632 healthcare seekers had been sensitised to accept or demand to be tested for malaria before treatment. Additionally, 3,237 healthcare service providers had also been oriented on the need to adhere to the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol on malaria diagnosis (Test, Treat and Track).
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Also, 67 District Malaria Advocacy Groups (DMAG) have been formed in 10 project regions, with 1,506 community malaria ambassadors trained in all these districts.
Partnership building
District malaria needs assessments have also been carried out in all the districts by the DMAGs and Malaria Advocacy Action Plans have been developed for implementation during the year.
It said partnership building, particularly with District/Municipal Assemblies, the Ghana Health Service (Regional, Municipal/District Health Directorates) and engagement with traditional, religious and community opinion leaders, had also yielded strong support for the project.