The effectiveness of the Competence Approach in the struggle against Malariae

From Lomé to Nanergou, all the communities we visited, all the Regional Coordination staff of the Red Cross we met, had used the Self Assessment framework as their main tool for creating awareness of malaria and stimulating action to fight against it.

The Self Assessment framework allows a community to self assess its level of competence in the struggle against malaria, to decide its priorities and to build up the Action Plan; use of bednets, keeping the village clean, education. Soon, a virtuous circle is established: the village sees that malaria cases get fewer and the dynamic of action is strengthened.

The Self Assessment is an opportunity for rich discussion, a powerful tool for freeing speech. We were often told, “When we self assess our Malaria Competence, when we decide on shared action, we talk about issues that bring us together, make us closer, mobilize us."

Dr Kuami Battah is head of the Togolese Red Cross Health Department is convinced of the relevance of the Self Assessment tool. “We will go on using this tool systematically and extend it to all places where the Red Cross has activities, because is allows ownership of the malaria issue by the communities."

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