The effectiveness of the Competence Approach in the struggle against Malaria

What advice can be drawn from the experience in the Gambia, to help a country or a region willing to adopt the Malaria Competence approach ? Mrs Adam Jane Sonko makes some suggestions.

• Convince people that the approach works and is effective in mobilising local action against malaria.
• Build the capacities of communities and allow them to take the lead in facilitating the process and determining their own competence levels and drawing their action plans (problem identification and finding solutions).
• Partnership at all levels is crucial for the successful implementation of the approach and programmes.
• Recognise and use the comparative strength of each partner.
• The programme requires constant monitoring, follow up and supervision to serve as a catalyst for communities and to renew efforts.
• Promote learning and transfer within communities to create more interactions and interest between communities.

We asked this same question (what advice?) to a group of women, in the village of Sohm. And they answered with happy enthusiasm, “Take along twenty of us to the country interested in Malaria Competence, and we will explain them what it is all about!” And we are convinced that they could and that they would do exactly that with great success!