Malaria Control Programme

HealthNet TPO has helped the fight against malaria in Afghanistan for many years now. Already in the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan in 1993, HealthNet TPO (then HealthNet International) was working on the prevention of malaria. With the development and implementation of new preventive and curative methods we have been instrumental in the reduction of malaria morbidity with 60% in 2005, to a reduction of another 50%-60% in 2010.

HealthNet TPO’s approach of introducing insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) has resulted in this form of personal protection becoming one of the country’s most important malaria interventions. In 2010, it proved to be one of the main contributors to a reduction in Plasmodium Falciparum cases of 91% and a reduction in Plasmodium Vivax cases of 81% since 2002. These successes have resulted in scaling up the ITN approach from personal protection to vector control measures. As a result, currently the Malaria control programme is being implemented in 14 provinces of Afghanistan.

The key elements of the programme are;
a) Distribution of long lasting insecticide treated bednets (LLINs)
b) Environmental malaria control        
c) Health education
d) Operational research
e) Training

In order to reach universal coverage and develop the capacity of local partners, HealthNet TPO signed sub-grant agreements for the implementation of activities with six local sub-recipients (ACTD, BRAC-Afghanistan, MMRCA, MOVE welfare organization, HAS and HADAAF). In 2010, the Global Fund designated HealthNet TPO as primary recipient of funds meant for combating malaria in Afghanistan.

The research component is aimed at developing new treatment and new preventative measures and descriptive epidemiology. The results will be instrumental in formulating and revising malaria control policies, strategies and key interventions in the country.  

In the years 2010 and 2011 the aim is to distribute in total 4.2 million impregnated bed nets in the 14 most high risk provinces (Nangarhar, Laghman Kunar, Khost, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Balkh, Faryab, Heraat, Badghees, Helmand, Kandahar).