Refugee camps
Malaria Transmission and Control in African Refugee Camps
Malaria is among the top causes of death and sufferings in acute refugee settings. The western part of Tanzania is one of such areas which is accommodating refugees from Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
This project aims to:
- integrate various aspects of malaria control in complex humanitarian emergencies;
- develop and strengthen the Health Information Systems to include important indicators for malaria;
- establish a rational policy for antimalarial drug use;
- develop a comprehensive plan for malaria vector control;
- build capacity among the NGOs for malaria control; and stratify malaria high risk areas utilizing GIS for efficient planning and targeting malaria control measures.
The latter will be achieved by monitoring changes in the distribution and incidence of malaria morbidity and mortality in the different refugee camps allowing for the targeting of malaria control activities to areas of highest risk.
The MRP in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Atlanta-based Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) have been involved in:
- training entomological teams for entomological monitoring and evaluation of malaria vector control measures;
- developing and implementing vector control measures involving insecticide-treated bednets and selective insecticide house spraying;
- evaluating the impact of the vector control measures and identifying health education needs as related to malaria transmission and control (UNHCR Engineering and Environment Services Section Mission Report 99/29 - Mnzava AEP).
Two years of implementation of the above recommended vector control measures in these camps in western Tanzania resulted in significantly lower deaths and cases of malaria. Implementing malaria control measures in complex emergencies is a challenge that very few institutions in Africa are well equipped for.
Collaborators
National Malaria Research Programme of the Medical Research Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Centres for Disease Control, Atlanta
Funding
Centres for Disease Control and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees