REPORT ON EXAMINATION OF THE MALARIA ERADICATION PROGRAM IN ETHIOPIA

Findings of the Strategy Review Team resulted in a change of the Malaria Eradic Services (MES) strategy from eradic to control, thus reducing personnel & material needs while allowing broader area coverage. The change of strategy required more selectivity in choosing control locations & level of effort to be applied by location, and reduced the number of areas requiring full surveillance. Although MES has adhered to the Plan of Action for FY72, accomplishing all significant objectives, it has not yet developed measuring criteria of a reporting system under the more variable & selective standards of malaria control. Irregular use by MES of Inspection & Supervision Forms, and lack of Surveillance Forms on Fever & Infant Parasite Surveys resulted in a lack of periodic overall evals at each mgmt level, in spite of adequate supervision at each organizational level. 60% of the loan funds supported MES local currency requirements, but MES has been unable to verify propriety of loan charges on commodities & services, an indication that AID/W"s SER/FM should routinely forward necessary documents to MES. MES officials indicated a need for 275 vehicles, but auditors believe that 225 would suffice for at least 3 more yrs. MES vehicle property records were inaccurate, causing inspection delays which in turn prevented MES from knowing the number of serviceable vehicles available or which cannibalized parts could eliminate wasted procurement. Proceeds from recent sale of AID grant-funded commodities were not deposited by MES into a special account for future uses as had been mutually agreed by IEG & AID/Ethiopia. A Procedure to assure that disposal proceeds are handled properly should be developed. Mission mgmt has not used all info on operation & mgmt of MES project. In an appended reply to the audit, the MES verifies, comments on, and details the credibility of the audit recommendations.