Nalini Abraham, MD¹, Jacob Thundiyal, President², Chacko Purvany, Director³, Laxman Raulo, Health Coord³, Ratnakar Ratho, Health Coord³, and John Oomen, Director⁴. (1) Country Health Advisor, Plan India, C 210, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi, India, 91-11-26968432, nalinisa@hotmail.com, (2) PREM, Behrampur, Orissa, India, (3) PREM-PLAN, Behrampur, Orissa, India, (4) Madsen Institute of Tribal Research and Action, Bissamcuttack, Orissa, India

Purpose: To share experience from a social mobilization initiative for community governance of malaria control by indigenous people. Information used: Coverage: Gajapati District in Orissa with 974 villages and a population of 133,737. Three rounds of blood slides examination of all U5 children and people suffering from fever on the day of the examination, at six months interval, aggregating 57179, with a QA on blood smear testing in place. Methods: Community radio listening through Radio-cassette players and audio cassettes was promoted. Posters were pasted on the village walls and slogans were painted on rocks and buildings along roads. Folk media like drama/dance troops was extensively used at weekly village fairs. Fever registers were maintained by the community along with births and deaths register. Chloroqunin depots in each village were managed by community women. Micro-credit organizations sold medicated nets at a sustainable price which was half the market price. Neem oil was used as mosquito repellent in kerosene lamps and also with mustard oil as body application. Weekly anti-malaria days were observed to mobilize public to undertake environmental measures to decrease mosquito breeding. Results: The PFR(+ve) rates were: Round 1 – 31.9%, Round 2 – 17.4%, Round 3 – 16.5%. Policy implications: Community ownership and governance is crucial. Control is best achieved through a multi-pronged approach that involves community education, environmental improvements, prevention by use of impregnated nets and through indigenous, locally acceptable methods like neem oil, surveillance through fever registers and treatment with chloroquin made available freely.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to conceptualise an appropriate model of social mobilisation for community governance of a communicable disease control program.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Self-sufficiency and Empowerment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.