ENDEMIC AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL (AUDIT REVIEW OF THE AID PROGRAM IN ZAIRE)

Evaluation, which covers the period from 1976 to 6/15/79 and is included in an audit of A.I.D."s entire Zaire program (PD-AAG-112-A1, PD-AAG-123-A1, PD-AAG-124-A1, PD-AAG-126-A1, PD-AAH-233-A1), is based on a review of project documents and onsite visits. To date, $260,000 of loan funds and $364,000 of GOZ funds have been obligated for the malaria component. The GOZ initially resisted a "systems approach" to malaria control, engaging in ineffective environmental approaches such as clearing debris from drainage ditches to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. This delayed project implementation, as did the lack of French language training materials (a translator has now been hired) and the lack of other donor support. The World Health Organization (WHO) technician did not arrive in-country until 6/79, and the UN Development Fund did not participate at all. A total of $680,000 in loan funds and $52,000 have been obligated for the measles component. A measles technician arrived 8/77 under a PASA with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the U.S. Public Health Service. After two years of operation, it is very unlikely that this component will achieve its goals on schedule. The vaccination program has been established in only four of 15 targeted cities, with a fifth program planned if proper fuel and cold storage facilities can be found. The Mission is planning to request of AID/W funds to build the latter. To date, no qualified candidates for long-term training have been found. Instead, five participants attended short-term training sessions developed by WHO and CDC. The WHO/CDC middle-level managers" course is over a year behind schedule and will not be ready until sometime in 1980. In response to the audit draft, the Mission has extended the measles component for two years. This represents a more realistic time-frame for achieving component goals, including those related to training.