Malaria Competence

Here is our defintion of Malaria Competence.

When individuals, families and communities recognise that malaria is caused by the bite of a mosquito, they take action to reduce the chance of infection and to reduce the consequences of infection

In a Malaria Competent society, we—as people in families, in communities, in organisations and in policy making—act from strength:

• to modify our surroundings and our behaviour so that they become hostile to the mosquito,
• to protect the most vulnerable from infection,
• to recognise the symptoms of malaria,
• to respond in a timely fashion so that we access the right treatment, and
• to learn from our experience and to share with others.

The definition of Malaria Competence is based on the definition of AIDS Competence. This link gives the definition of AIDS Competence used by the Constellation for AIDS Competence.

The Malaria Competence process is an adaptation of the AIDS Comptence process that has been developed by the Constellation for AIDS Competence that has applied it to HIV/AIDS in more than more than 30 countries. Full details about the AIDS Competence process can be found at www.aidscompetence.org.

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"If we have good organisation and if we have an efficient programme against malaria with all the necessary commodities, if those who are affected are not involved, if they do not participate, if they do not join the struggle, if they do not adopt what is the right thing to do, if they do not make these principles their own, then the programme will not produce results." These are the words of Blaise Toulassi Sedoh, Coordinator of the Togolese Red Cross with responsibility for HIV/AIDS and malaria. (See video clip below)

The Competence process places man at the centre of the solution to his own problems. Here is Dr Battah Kuami, the Head of the Health Department of the Togolese Red Cross, "In terms of health, and particularly community health, it is man who is at the centre. This means that he finds out how to solve his problems, and that includes the malaria problem among others, by changing his behaviour. And that is where we have got to now. We have made man understand that he is the solution to his problem. And starting from that everything begins to fall into place."(See video clip below)

The principal of Keer Cherno school in The Gambia declared a well worn and well used Self Assessment to be 'his Bible' and then declared:

'If you want to be successful in implementing ANYTHING,
you must involve people.
If people are involved,
there is NOTHING that you cannot do.
And if there is understanding and interest and will,
you can do ANYTHING.'

(See video clip below)

The Malaria Competence process is a simple methodology that allows communities to take ownership of their programme to deal with malaria in their community.

At the heart of the Malaria Competence process is the Self Assessment framework. This framework lets a community analyse the issue of malaria in their community. This analysis provides the basis of an action plan that the community defines and for which the community takes responsibility. In the action plan, the community defines the measures by which it will measure its own progress and is thus able to see the progress that they are making.