Characterizing and controlling of residual malaria transmission areas of Southern Rakhine: Sa Don Village of Toungup Township

Sa Don village is situated under Ma Ei Rural Health Center of Toungup Township, Rakhine State. It is about 30-45 minutes’ drive from Ma Ei village by motorbike and has about 180 households and 627 people.
Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied for characterizing and appropriate controlling of residual malaria transmission areas of Sa Don village.

Entomological findings of Sa Don village and Thit Yinn Chaung worksite

During March-April 2018, the entomological assessment team of NMCP revealed there were An. sundaicus and An. maculatus mosquitoes collected by human landing outdoor collection in Sa Don village. But in the Thit Yin Chaung worksite, there were An. mimimus and An. maculatus collected by human landing outdoor collection and light trap collection. Entomological findings supported that main efficient vector, An. minimus species were present at the forested worksites.

Impressions

Residual malaria transmission of Sa Don village could be related with the influx of migrant carriers, outbound forest goers, the need of malaria service coverage at the nearby worksites, and protection of outdoor malaria transmission.

Additional interventions provided

  • Active fever surveillance among forest goers

The VMW was instructed to monitor the mobility pattern of forest goers and to take blood test of those who were going to and from the forested areas. The VMW recorded at least one to a maximum of ten visits made by individual forest workers within a year by population mobility monitoring. There were no malaria positive results identified among forest goers who were suspected for malaria.

  • Mosquito repellents distribution to forest goers

Mosquito repellents were distributed to forest goers for protection of mosquito bites during outdoor works at night. A total of 50 repellents tubes have been distributed to forest goers up to the end of September 2019.

  • Recruitment of Mobile Malaria Workers for malaria diagnosis and treatment services at the forested worksite

Forest goers were encouraged to mobilize as mobile malaria workers for malaria diagnosis and treatment services for their forested areas in February 2019. Three mobile malaria workers (MMW) were trained for three days at village level for malaria diagnosis, treatment and reporting. MMWs are continuously engaged with the VMW of Sa Don village for reporting, replenishment of RDT, antimalaria drugs and necessary commodities.