The incidence of malaria in Zambia nearly tripled between 1976 and 1999, leaving it with one of the highest incidences of malaria in the world. This was partly due to a lack of infrastructure, and also to how the disease was being fought. There was a move away from residual insecticide spraying to reliance on insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and drug therapies.

However, traditional ITNs need to be retreated every six months, and the disease is becoming more resistant to treatment.

The Japanese government is committed to assisting Africa, as outlined by Prime Minister Koizumi at the Asian-African Summit in April 2005. From 24th January to 6th February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) conducted a capacity building workshop in Zambia for Japanese health NGOs, including JOICFP, on malaria prevention.

Messages to help prevent malaria come in many forms

The seminar outlined the basics about malaria, and emphasized ways to integrate malaria prevention in existing health care activities, since in addition to medication and bed nets, malaria prevention activities need health facilities, trained personnel, and distribution services, all of which are components of existing health projects.

The Zambian government is piloting distributing the most recent medication and a new type of long-lasting insecticidal treated net (LLITN). This new net, developed in Japan by a chemistry company, is more durable and effective than the traditional one, and washing and drying reactivates the chemical release mechanism of the net. The net is the only one endorsed by the World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme as demonstrating long-lasting (five years) effectiveness in preventing malaria.

Demonstration on how to use ITNs

JOICFP's role

JOICFP, in cooperation with the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) conducts two community-operated reproductive health projects in Zambia. JOICFP is analyzing how to best integrate malaria prevention into these projects since health personnel who can receive training, and some suitable facilities are already in place.

Meeting with National Malaria Control Center

Through the seminar it was emphasized that malaria is a multi-faceted problem, and the Japanese NGOs were encouraged to start malaria prevention projects on a small scale, and to make sure that all activities were thoroughly carried out.