Information Systems Research
Decentralisation of Malaria Control to the Health District
South Africa has a long standing malaria programme aimed at controlling both the vector and the parasite of the disease. It has been extremely successful as evidenced by the low mortality and incidence rates due to malaria. Furthermore, large areas of the country have been freed from epidemics in relation to the situation prior to control. The control programme in KwaZulu-Natal is therefore an excellent example of preventative health care and this working group, co-ordinated by the MRC, has been investigating this programme in regard to the Primary Health Care policies (PHC) in the country.
National Health Policy in South Africa is to develop health care to District Health System (DHS). Several questions arise as to how the current malaria control could be integrated into DHS. The Provincial Malaria Advisory Group is investigating and developing a strategy to decentralise the malaria control programme to the DHS.
Collaborators
Medical Research Council, Department of Health and South African National Defence Forces