In 1998, the Government of Zambia (GOZ) launched its integrated malaria initiative in three districts in Eastern Province. This initiative was a multi-pronged approach that included training of health staff and community health workers, and selling mosquito nets in the communities. Malaria was the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Zambia, so innovative approaches to controlling malaria were sought. One unique component of this initiative was distribution of ITNs using commercial marketing and financial management techniques at the health center level.
The Society for Family Health (SFH), a Zambian NGO, was responsible for mosquito nets sales. Proceeds from net sales are deposited in a revolving fund used to purchase additional nets once the original stocks are depleted. The Partnerships for Health Reform (PHR) project provided assistance to support project management and financing. PHR designed the administrative procedures and record-keeping forms, and trained SFH staff and rural health center staff in all aspects of operations management. USAID was a key partner in this initiative, donating the initial 20,000 mosquito nets.
Rural health centers play a key role in this operation. Extensive training of rural health center staff, and effective design of financing and management procedures are critical to project sustainability. To date the collection rates have been excellent, and it is expected that the revolving fund will be able to support many cycles of net replacements. In addition to being a sustainable program, this initiative has increased net ownership from approximately 7% to30-40% in the three districts covered.
Learning Objectives: This session will describe how to apply commercial approaches to financial and operations management to implement a sustainable program for malaria control. These commercial approaches can be successfully adopted by health center staff in rural areas, given sufficient support and appropriate tools.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.