Malaria Operational Research

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Date of Operation: 2008 – 2013

Primary Implementing Partner: Malaria Consortium

Regions of Operation: Oromia and SNNP

Goal:

Provide operational research support for malaria prevention and control efforts in Ethiopia.

Objectives:

  • Undertake a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) efficacy study.
  • Develop a malaria risk map for Oromia.
  • Molecular analysis of dried blood spots for investigation of genetic and spatial epidemiology of Plasmodium in Oromia Regional State.
  • School based surveillance of malaria – investigation of approaches for outbreak detection and response.
  • Retrospective malaria data collection from health facilities in Oromia Regional State: investigation of patient flow and access to health services.

Description:

The Malaria Operational Research project supports strategic operational research, with the goal of assisting the planning, implementation and monitoring of the U.S. Government malaria support in Ethiopia.

The project has completed two operational research studies. Following the first study’s results, the Ministry of Health changed the national policy from the use of single-species to multi-species RDTs for malaria case management. Use of such RDTs now allows community-level health extension workers to differentiate malaria from any other causes of fever. The second study showed the potential usefulness of using schools as operational platforms for malaria surveillance and confirmed prior data that malaria transmission in Ethiopia is highly heterogeneous. The study also identified two geographical areas with great malaria transmission, which are now specifically targeted to receive malaria interventions.

More activities will continue to build on the findings of previous studies, and will look at the possibility of using schools as malaria surveillance platforms within the operational context of the Ethiopia’s National Malaria Control Program.

Expected Results:

  • Operational research studies successfully completed, providing evidence base for planning, implementation and monitoring of U.S. Government malaria support in Ethiopia.