Contribution of Community Based Approach to Eliminating Malaria in Ethiopia

Introduction Ethiopia, the only SSA country to attempt malaria eradication, brings ample experience the current global community to eliminate malaria. In recent years, as part of the Roll Back malaria initiative, it has drastically increased access to ITNs, to treatment and IRS and achieved remarkable reductions in morbidity and mortality.

Sustained success will depend on what happens at the community and even households’ level in making the appropriate use of recommended interventions a default position. The paper builds on the experience of EMCPA members in community-based approaches in Ethiopia from the Malaria Eradication to current periods to draw lessons for future programs.

Methods Documentary review of the experiences in various periods is undertaken. Effort is made to draw on the experience of EMCPA members, most veterans of the malaria eradication period.  A thorough analysis of the community-based approach implemented by EMCPA in selected districts is undertaken.

  Results Important gains have been made in recent years, during HSDP III in particular. The rapid/accelerated expansion of health services, the introduction of the Health Extension Program in every village in particular, hold major promises for the elimination effort. Accesses to ITN (99.7%), IRS (74.3%) and treatment have almost reached target levels; mortality has decreased markedly.

However knowledge on malaria, for example, is invariably lower than the national average in Oromia. There are major variations in achievements by weredas, the quality of services is questionable, attrition/turnover of health workers remains a concern and overall appropriate utilization of ITNs, IRS and health facilities  is low.

Conclusions and Recommendations Ethiopia is, more than ever before better prepared to engage in the global effort to eliminate malaria but the task ahead should not be underestimated. Based on the experience of EMCPA members and current findings, measures for future elimination activities are drawn.