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Dysoley L, Callery JJ, Bunreth V, Vanna M, Davoeung C, Sovann Y, You S, Ol S, Tripura R, Chew R, Chandna A, Christiansen-Jucht C, Hughes J, Sokomar N, Sophornarann T, Rideout J, Veyvath T, Sarith O, Puthy T, Sothearoth H, An SS, Zaman SI, von Seidlein L, Vanthy L, Sodavuth P, Vannak C, Dondorp AM, Lubell Y, Maude RJ, Peto TJ, Adhikari B. Expanding the roles of community health workers to sustain programmes during malaria elimination: a meeting report on operational research in Southeast Asia. Malar J 2024; 23:2. [PMID: 38166839 PMCID: PMC10759643 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In Southeast Asia malaria elimination is targeted by 2030. Cambodia aims to achieve this by 2025, driven in large part by the urgent need to control the spread of artemisinin-resistant falciparum malaria infections. Rapid elimination depends on sustaining early access to diagnosis and effective treatment. In much of Cambodia, rapid elimination will rely on a village malaria worker (VMW) network. Yet as malaria declines and is no longer a common cause of febrile illness, VMWs may become less popular with febrile patients, as VMWs do not diagnose or treat other conditions at present. There is a risk that VMWs become inactive and malaria rebounds before the complete interruption of transmission is achieved.During 2021-23 a large-scale operational research study was conducted in western Cambodia to explore how a VMW network could be sustained by including health activities that cover non-malarial illnesses to encourage febrile patients to continue to attend. 105 VMWs received new rapid diagnostic tests (including dengue antigen-antibody and combined malaria/C-reactive protein tests), were trained in electronic data collection, and attended health education packages on hygiene and sanitation, disease surveillance and first aid, management of mild illness, and vaccination and antenatal care.In August 2023 the National Malaria Control Programme of Cambodia convened a stakeholder meeting in Battambang, Cambodia. Findings from the study were reviewed in the context of current malaria elimination strategies. The discussions informed policy options to sustain the relevance of the VMW network in Cambodia, and the potential for its integration with other health worker networks. This expansion could ensure VMWs remain active and relevant until malaria elimination is accomplished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lek Dysoley
- National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
- National Institute for Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
| | - James J Callery
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Moul Vanna
- Action for Health Development, Battambang, Cambodia
| | | | - Yok Sovann
- Provincial Health Department, Pailin, Cambodia
| | - Sles You
- Provincial Health Department, Battambang, Cambodia
| | - Sam Ol
- Action for Health Development, Battambang, Cambodia
- President's Malaria Initiative, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Rupam Tripura
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rusheng Chew
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Arjun Chandna
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia
| | | | - Jayme Hughes
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Nguon Sokomar
- Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- University Research Company Ltd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- United States Agency for International Development, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Top Sophornarann
- Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- University Research Company Ltd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- United States Agency for International Development, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Jeanne Rideout
- Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- University Research Company Ltd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- United States Agency for International Development, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Tat Veyvath
- Provincial Health Department, Battambang, Cambodia
| | - Oum Sarith
- Provincial Health Department, Pailin, Cambodia
| | - Thaung Puthy
- Provincial Health Department, Battambang, Cambodia
| | | | - Sen Sam An
- Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- University Research Company Ltd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- United States Agency for International Development, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sazid Ibna Zaman
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lorenz von Seidlein
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lim Vanthy
- Action for Health Development, Battambang, Cambodia
| | - Preap Sodavuth
- United Nations Office for Project Services, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Chrun Vannak
- United Nations Office for Project Services, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Arjen M Dondorp
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard J Maude
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Thomas J Peto
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bipin Adhikari
- Mahidol‑Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Adhikari B, Bayo M, Peto TJ, Callery JJ, Tripura R, Dysoley L, Mshamu S, Gesase S, von Seidlein L, Dondorp AM. Comparing the roles of community health workers for malaria control and elimination in Cambodia and Tanzania. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e013593. [PMID: 38070880 PMCID: PMC10729139 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The reduction of deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is stalling, whereas many countries in Southeast Asia are approaching malaria elimination. We reviewed the role of community health worker (CHW) programmes in malaria control and elimination between regions, with a more detailed description of the programmes in Tanzania and Cambodia. Compared with Tanzania, Cambodia has a much more developed CHW network, which has been pivotal in the near elimination of malaria. In Tanzania, the malaria burden has remained similar over the last decade and treatment continues to rely on healthcare facilities, which provide more limited access to early diagnosis and treatment. Overall, the proportion of malaria cases treated by CHWs is substantially lower in SSA than in Southeast Asia. Even though networks of CHWs are resource intensive and malaria epidemiology differs substantially between countries, there is a strong case for expanding CHW networks in rural SSA to improve early access to effective malaria treatment and reduce the malaria burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bipin Adhikari
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
| | - Makhily Bayo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J Peto
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
| | - James J Callery
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
| | - Rupam Tripura
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
| | - Lek Dysoley
- C.N.M National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Salum Mshamu
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
- CSK Research Solutions, Mtwara, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Gesase
- Korogwe Research Laboratory, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Lorenz von Seidlein
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
| | - Arjen M Dondorp
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK
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