POST 00774E: MEASLES CAMPAIGN AND ITN DISTRIBUTION

POST 00774E: MEASLES CAMPAIGN AND ITN DISTRIBUTION Follow-up on Posts 00763E, 00765E, 00767E, 00768E and 00771E 11 April 2005 _____________________________________ This posting continues the discussion on measles campaign and bednet distribution with two contributions, both from colleagues of the IFRC. The first is from Stefan Hoyer (mailto:[email protected]) or (mailto:[email protected]) based in Zimbabwe. The second is from Jean Roy (mailto:[email protected]) and contains an appeal for country interventions data that should be well noted by those concerned. _____________________________________ Dear colleagues, Please find enclosed an extract of a recent presentation of the NMCP Zambia (http://www.technet21.org/zambia3.ppt) which shows that despite all laudable efforts of the many partners engaged in Zambia over the last years, the only districts that achieved, indeed exceeded, the low Abuja targets were the five districts which carried out the "Measles and malaria" pilot campaign of 2003. On this background it is saddening to read continued attempts to discredit the simple and coherent idea of giving out ITNs to children under five at the opportunity of receiving other live saving health services. It is wrong to suggest that nets given out through the integrated approach are not followed up or that they are simply "dumped" which seems to imply a lack of targeting. The counter argument that this "undermines" ongoing efforts to promote ITN use is also wrong. As a matter of fact, social marketing and similar efforts to strengthen bednet coverage through sales can be strengthened by targeted, free distributions so long as they are well coordinated with the longer-term projects and are perceived as promotional distributions. Promotional free distributions are a regularly practised technique of social marketing (PSI usually gives out 30% of condoms for free). This principle was successfully tested in Zambia where in Kalulushi district a 100% redemption voucher scheme was carried out in collaboration with Netmark boosting the sales of Netmark supported private ITN outlets while achieving equity among all socio-economic groups and rapid scale up (ref. to 2nd presentation : http://www.technet21.org/zambia1.ppt). The error lies in the notion that an abstract ideal of a "system" is more important than actual service delivery. More concretely: millions of children should continue to risk their lives while waiting for services arriving through "the correct system" when this could be avoided on a nation-wide scale within one week through another approach that is simply declared "incorrect" on a matter of principle defying basic common sense. What is nothing but a grave lack of judgement is then justified through defamatory terms such as "Blitz" as if speaking of an act of war. The upside down concept that following the "right means" is more important than rapidly reaching the goal is not only absurd but quite dangerous as it could increase child mortality by unnecessarily delaying the delivery of live saving public health goods to children in danger. Yours sincerely, Stefan Hoyer, Dr. S. Hoyer Malaria Adviser for Africa for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) c/o Harare Regional Delegation Harare, Zimbabwe ------------------------------------------------------- Dear Colleagues, Christian brings up an excellent point.... the diversity of countries and the increasing complicity in terms of malaria interventions, inputs and actors in each country require more country knowledge and tailoring of approaches. There are no "facile" solutions to say that mass free distribution or social marketing or other schemes are appropriate. Each country must now be looked at with great care. The advent of GFATM funds, other partners, other donors, and NGOs present a welcomed but more complex country scenario. RBM needs to develop specific country sub-national databases indicating donor inputs in order to guide new players and donors and to avoid duplicative efforts. I'm happy to report that RBM is now seriously working at developing a database that will provide donors and other actors the data that is needed for appropriate decision making. These country profiles will include sub-national info on coverage, donor inputs and unmet needs for LLITNs. Indeed there are many approaches and we must move forward in a studied and intelligent manner. The days of massive national free distribution schemes are probably very shortlived. However there are perhaps lots of sub-national (district level) massive efforts still possible where the most vulnerable are not accessing LLITNs. But we all need data to make these decisions. RBM will need input from all NGOs and donors to compile these country profiles. Please send them data on your country interventions when they request it to compile comprehensive country summaries that will eventually help us all in making our programming and funding decisions. Thank you Jean Roy International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, Switzerland ______________________________________________________________________________ All members of the TechNet21 e-Forum are invited to send comments on any posting or to use the forum to raise a new discussion or request technical information in relation to immunization services. 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