Educating the public about Malaria

Botswana’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria program are taking great strides to eliminate malaria in Botswana. One of their key strategies in meeting their goal of zero local transmissions by 2015 is to provide education, information, communication and advocacy to community members. To help them with their goals, I am conducting health talks and attending health expos with Celia, the Health Education Technician and Mphande, the Health Education Assistant at Shakawe Clinic.

Using materials provided by the Botswana Ministry of Health and materials our team has created, we are educating people at government offices, NGOs, schools, and other venues. We personalize the health talks based on who we are talking with. For example, if we are giving a health talk to mothers with children under 5 years old who are attending the Child Welfare Clinic, we will explain how children under 5 are the most vulnerable and susceptible to malaria. Another example is if we give a talk to the Veterinary Department, we highlight that when they are working in the bush they are at a high risk for contracting malaria and should bring their bed nets with them.

Here’s a general outline a health talk about malaria:

• First, define what malaria is, and explain the signs and symptoms of complicated and uncomplicated malaria. While defining what malaria is, try to get as much audience interaction as possible. Additionally highlight that children under 5 years old, pregnant women, and people living with HIV/AIDS are at the highest risk.
• Second, have the audience list the signs and symptoms of malaria, if appropriate. Once the majority of the signs and symptoms are listed, go over them in detail. Encourage anyone who has these symptoms to go to the nearest clinic to get a rapid diagnostic test and a blood smear test.
• Third, discuss preventative measures making sure you put a lot of emphasis on using a bed net. When talking about using a bed net, bring a rectangular net that has been converted into a conical bed net (preferred by Batswana).  Demonstrate how to convert, use, repair, wash the bed net properly. Use the phrase, “Hang it up, Keep it up, Tuck it in.” Other preventative measures to discuss are Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), personal protection, and vector control. 
• Lastly, end the health talk with questions, answers, and comments.

 

Malaria health talk given at Shakawe Clinic led by Mphande (HEA), Celia (HET), and Matthew (PCV)