The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48591

Joy Miller Del Rosso, School Health and Nutrition, Save the Children Federation/US, 54 Wilton Road, PO Box 950, Westport, CT 06881, 203-221-4000, jdelross@savechildren.org, Mary Mukaka, School Health and Nutrition, Save the Children/ US Malawi, PO Box 690, Mangochi, Malawi, and Lisa Sherburne, The Manoff Group, 2001 S Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20009.

In response to high malaria morbidity and mortality rates in school age children and low access to health facilities, the Save the Children US/Malawi School Health and Nutrition Program supports first aid kits in primary schools in rural Mangochi District, Malawi. Several teachers in each school are trained to treat fever along with other minor illnesses and injuries. Serious illnesses are referred to the nearest health facility. Teachers follow up with students after dispensing the medicine to ensure adherence to medication instructions and that their conditions improve.

In order to make the first aid kits sustainable, communities collectively contribute a percentage of the costs each year, and monitor use of the medicine.

Save the Children/Malawi has seen a drop in the death rate in school age children due to malaria in the past year of implementation. Reduced malaria morbidity and mortality allows children to attend school and participate in class more.

First aid kits can provide a viable and cost-effective method to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in schools where students have little access to other treatment options. A program is in place that requires minimal disruption of classroom activities and resource inputs.

Please note: quantitative data illustrating the decline in mortality rates is currently being prepared and will be incorporated into the paper.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe a program that provides malaria treatment in rural schools and identify key factors that contribute to the successful implementation of a community-supported First Aid Kit in rural primary schools.

Keywords: School Health, Communicable Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.