Success Story: Improving Malaria Control in Fria, Guinea

The prefecture, located in the Boké Region, covers an area of approximately 150 kilometers from the capital city of Conakry and has a population of 141,671 people. The prefecture is one of the 14 supported by the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-funded StopPalu project, which aims to control malaria in 19 prefectures across Guinea. The Prefectural Health Director of Fria attributes the improvement in the health system to the support of the StopPalu project. The project has strengthened the health system by implementing systems and methods that create positive change at the community and facility levels. One key activity is the monthly monitoring meetings, which bring together heads of all health centers and hospital officials to analyze statistics, validate information, and reinforce the capacity of health providers. These meetings also provide an opportunity to update health providers on changes in protocols or policies. In addition to the monitoring meetings, the StopPalu project supports supervision visits every two months to assess the quality of services offered in health facilities and at the community level. These visits allow the Prefectural Health Directorate to appreciate the challenges faced by health workers and propose solutions to improve working conditions. The project also conducts regular training sessions for staff members of the Prefectural Health Directorate and health facilities, as well as community health workers, on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring and evaluation of malaria. The availability of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets in health facilities has increased the number of pregnant women who come in for antenatal care and children who come in for vaccinations. The project also provides antimalarial medicine and other antimalarial products at no cost, which has led to a significant improvement in the quality of services. The Prefectural Health Directorate is committed to capitalizing on the results obtained in the field and advocating for continued support from the StopPalu project and the US Government through USAID. The StopPalu project has also led to an increase in the number of community health workers who can use rapid diagnostic tests and treat patients if the test is positive or refer them to the health center if the test is negative. The project's integrated approach, which includes outreach activities in communities and through the media, has ensured that products for malaria prevention and treatment are well used by the community. Overall, the StopPalu project has made a significant contribution to improving the health system in Fria, Guinea, and has set a positive example for other prefectures in the country.