19  Community Based Interventions

Community engagement is essential to malaria prevention and treatment efforts. Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in delivering interventions, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

• Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM):

  • CHWs are trained to diagnose and treat malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea at the community level.

  • iCCM ensures that children receive timely treatment without needing to visit health facilities.

• Health Education and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC):

  • Awareness campaigns promote the use of ITNs and adherence to treatment.

  • Communities are educated on environmental management, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

• Community Involvement in Vector Control:

  • CHWs help distribute ITNs and participate in household IRS campaigns.

  • Community participation ensures greater acceptance and coverage of interventions.

• Challenges:

  • CHWs often face training and resource gaps, which limit their ability to provide consistent care.

  • Sustained funding is necessary to maintain community-based programs.

Stop and Read

Here are some interesting reads on some of PATHs work in the CCM space with a focus on Zambia:

• Reaching the unreached: ending malaria through health care for all

• Community health workers: The backbone of malaria elimination

• Effectiveness of community case management of malaria on severe malaria and inpatient malaria deaths in Zambia: a dose–response study using routine health information system data