CROSSCUTTING AND OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS
Under cross cutting and other health systems, Kuboresha -Africa puts emphasis on social and behavior change (SBC). NMCD (National Malaria Control Division) Objective.
The NMCD’s objective for SBC falls within strategic objective three of the UMRESP 2021–2025 which states that by 2025, at least 90 percent of the population sustains the acquired knowledge, and utilizes and practices correct malaria prevention, control, and management measures.
NMCD Approach The UMRESP places emphasis on consolidating and sustaining high levels of knowledge already gained by the population to avoid relapses that can lead to drops in already formed norms about malaria prevention. In addition, the UMRESP SBC strategy is to create demand and increase uptake and utilization of malaria interventions by empowering communities to demand malaria services and products, and to be able to take individual action for their health. To accelerate this, focus will be on actions that have a bearing on health providers, communities, households, and individuals through the following strategies: • Create demand for preventive and curative services/products through increased population knowledge and adherence to positive malaria practices. • Raise the profile of malaria among policy/decision-makers and actors at all levels. • Strengthen structures and mechanisms for the delivery of malaria SBC interventions and full operationalization of the MAAM approach. • Strengthen community-based behavioral change actions to harness and sustain positive malaria practices including working through VHTs at the community level.
To ensure community members practice prevention behaviors in areas where risk perception for malaria may have shifted such as in former IRS areas and to sustain gains there, the NMCD will do the following: • Develop profiles of households that are most susceptible to malaria and those where the promoted malaria behaviors have not formed into habits. • Develop SBC interventions tailored to the unique needs of the identified households. • Deploy quality improvement approaches to continuously address emerging behavioral patterns among the identified households and adapt interventions to ensure sustained practice and adoption of the promoted malaria prevention practices. The national SBC approach is to use all available mass media channels to reinforce malaria messages. The primary target audience for demand creation programs includes health workers, caregivers, and heads of households, including men. The purpose of this approach is to increase utilization of preventive and curative services at household and community levels. Among health workers, the national SBC approach promotes knowledge (reading and practice around the subject area i.e. continued medical education), provider communication/counseling skills (interpersonal communication), and provider attitude change.
Our focus in Malaria: Integrated Vector Management that includes:
Integrated Vector Management that includes ensuring use of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS).
Increasing awareness, knowledge and stimulating demand for Malaria prevention and treatment through behavior change communication (BCC).
Strengthening Community behavioral change activities for Malaria engaging community institutions, cultural groupings, religious institutions and Village Health Teams (VHTs) . Some of the activities included are community dialogues and drama, films and sports events.
Strengthening social mobilization to increase awareness, and demand for Malaria prevention and treatment at national and sub national level.
Strengthening Community-led monitoring and evaluation of behavior change communication (BCC) interventions.
KUBORESHA-AFRICA LIMITED 