​Background & Purpose

 

PEDA has been working with the Global Fund in the area of malaria prevention since 2008. There have been substantial successes during this time, including: (1) a decrease in the annual incidence of confirmed malaria cases per 1000 population from 7.7 to 3.1 between 2001 and 2008; (2) a decline in malaria mortality from 4.6 to 0.2 per 1000 population between 2001 and 2008; and (3) a reduction in the number of malaria deaths in hospital from 187 (2003) to 11(2008).

 

Monitoring and evaluation undertaken as part of this program has identified that despite the high rates of decline in malaria seen in Lao PDR, gaps continue to exist, particularly with respect to disadvantaged communities in remote, difficult to access areas, and communities comprising ethnic minorities. Both the remoteness of such communities and the presence of a language barrier have been shown to affect the success of malaria prevention programs.

 

This has been found to be the case in the Nong District (Savannakhet Province), where review of project outcomes found: (1) malaria continues to be a burden to communities within remote areas and with ethnic minority populations; (2) ethnic minority communities are often marginalized from information on prevention as well as from medical services; and (3) evidence of cross border movement of malaria between Lao PDR and Vietnam resulting from the informal forestry industry and movement of migrant workers (this is the case in Nong District, which shares it border with Vietnam).

 

Proposed Interventions

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To address the development problem described above PEDA proposes to utilize an interpersonal communication (IPC), approach targeted at ethnic minorities. This will include use of Outreach Teams, Peer Educators and social advocacy tools. By using a range of communication methods, this approach aims to increase understanding of malaria prevention across more cohorts of the community as well as encouraging timely healthcare seeking behaviour. These methods are aligned with the Laos PDR National Malaria Control Program, which proposes adoption of strong advocacy, communication and social mobilization to target remote communities and ethnic minorities. Promoting changes in healthcare seeking behaviour also aligns with work being undertaken by the Centre for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE).