| Popis: |
Awareness training, personal protection against mosquito bites, and vector control measures are all important in helping reduce Anopheles mosquito bites. However, these measures cannot completely eliminate the risk of contracting malaria. The prevention of malaria in non-immune individuals in sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on the proper use of effective chemoprophylaxis. Compliance with effective chemoprophylactic regimens is problematic, especially in long-term expatriates who believe they have acquired natural immunity. In spite of implementing a comprehensive Malaria Control Program (MCP), with a goal of zero cases of malaria among non-immune individuals, the Chad Export Project experienced an increase in the number of malaria cases in the contractor non-immune workforce as construction activities in Chad and Cameroon accelerated. Several serious cases of Falciparum malaria were recorded, and four fatalities occurred. In response to this, a multidisciplinary team was formed to identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the MCP. One of the team's key recommendations was to develop and implement a Malaria Chemoprophylaxis Compliance Program (MCCP) to address identified informational and behavioral shortcomings regarding malaria chemoprophylaxis use. The heart of the MCCP is awareness and education but compliance with chemoprophylaxis is further encouraged through collection of urine specimens from non-immune individuals for laboratory determination of effective anti-malaria medication usage. Data collected during the first 15 months that the MCCP was implemented in Chad and Cameroon show an overall low (i.e. |
