Telling Our Story: Success Story of Malaria Prevention in Guinea

As part of this initiative, RTI International trained over 1,000 health facility workers in 14 prefectures on behavior change communication, malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The training focused on the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) for simple and severe cases of malaria. The rural municipality of Doupourou, located in the prefecture of Boffa, has seen a notable impact from the StopPalu project. The municipality has a population of 21,594, mostly agro-pastoral people and fishermen, who traditionally rely on self-medication and traditional healers. However, the use of RDTs and ACT, as well as training for community health workers, has contributed to a reversal of this practice. The chief of the Doupourou health center, Mr. Charles Sakele Keita, attributes the success to the training received from the StopPalu project. A notable example of the project's success is the case of a child who was treated for malaria at the Doupourou health center. The child had been treated by two traditional practitioners without improvement, but after being examined by Mr. Keita, who performed a positive RDT, the child was treated at no cost and provided with advice on prevention and treatment. After five days of observation, the child regained their health, and the family returned to the center to express their gratitude. The father, who had been skeptical of seeking medical attention, has since committed himself to raising awareness in the community about the importance of using health facilities. The StopPalu project's impact extends beyond individual cases, as it has contributed to a broader shift in the community's behavior. The use of RDTs and ACT has become more widespread, and community health workers are now trained to promote the use of health facilities. The project's success has also led to a decrease in the practice of self-medication and the use of traditional healers. As a result, the community is now more likely to seek medical attention when needed, reducing the risk of malaria-related complications. The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in Guinea continues to work towards achieving universal coverage for malaria prevention and treatment. The StopPalu project's success serves as a model for future initiatives, highlighting the importance of training health facility workers and promoting the use of RDTs and ACT. By building on this momentum, the PMI aims to reduce malaria cases and ultimately achieve a malaria-free Guinea.