Working with community malaria action teams (CMATs) contributes to malaria control

INTRODUCTION

Maximization of existing malaria preventive measures through active community participation is a high priority for malaria control and elimination [1-3]. Elimination of malaria should not be the responsibility of health professionals alone. Rather health professionals should work with the community to promote their participation in malaria elimination initiatives [4, 5]. This brief shares findings from the Malaria Elimination Program for Ruhuha (MEPR). This program was funded by WOTRO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/NWO Science for Global Development). It aims at showing the multifactorial conditions of malaria in a community and the role of community participation in the elimination of malaria. Specifically, the program worked with community malaria action teams (CMATs) to sensitize the community about malaria elimination and to identify and facilitate community-based solutions for malaria elimination.

KEY MESSAGES

CMATs contribute to malaria elimination by sensitizing communities about malaria control, identifying and facilitating community-based solutions and fostering a sense of community ownership.