Six Mekong Countries

  • Yunnan Province,
       PR China
  • Myanmar
  • Lao PDR
  • Thailand
  • Cambodia
  • Viet Nam
Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Essential features of malaria in the Mekong

  • Successful malaria control in China, Thailand and Vietnam
  • Recent progress in Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar but malaria burden still heavy
  • Now, remaining problems in
    • mainly marginalised populations, ethnic minorities, occupational migrants
    • international borders, forested and hilly regions
  • Inequity in access to health care
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Essential features of malaria in the Mekong

  • Emergence and spread of multi drug resistant falciparum malaria

  • Presenting as “permanent” epidemics

  • 150 million people at risk in these six countries
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Evolution of the Mekong RBM

  • Building on collaborations within and between countries
    • Common problems along int’l borders
    • Experienced countries help others
  • Capitalizing on existing collaborations to tackle malaria:
    • ACTMalaria, SEAMEO-TROP MED, EC Regional Malaria Project, other bilateral programs.
    • Successful collaboration in other health programs
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Developing consensus to work together

March 1999, Ho Chi Minh City, 1st meeting to strengthen efforts against malaria in the context of RBM.

  • Six Mekong countries
  • UNICEF
  • WHO
  • UNDP
  • EC Regional Malaria Control Project
  • Asian Development Bank
  • ACTMalaria
  • SEAMEO TROPMED
  • Bilateral Organizations - JICA, Belgian Corporation, AusAID, USAID, DFID, Hashimoto Initiative, others
  • Others: NGOs, ASEAN
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

The Mekong RBM Plan

Developed by the Mekong countries and supported by UNICEF-WHO alliance and other partners

First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Objectives:

  • To reduce malaria mortality and morbidity by 50% by 2010, relative to 1998

  • To halt the progression of multi-drug resistance.
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Technical Strategies

  • ITNs as the main method of prevention

  • Early diagnosis by rapid diagnostic tests at community level

  • Combination treatment in multi-drug resistance areas
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Approaches

  • supporting community-level prevention and care
  • capacity-building by working together and seeking complementarity
  • strong communications support
  • partnerships and inter-sectoral links
  • engagement of private/commercial sector
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Why UNICEF-WHO alliance?

Complementary strengths:

    UNICEF
    • Communication, advocacy, social mobilisation
    • Community-based health care, NGO links
    WHO
    • Technical support
    • Epidemiology
    • Research and development
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Country component

  • Targeting marginal populations
  • Improved access to quality services
  • Promotion of ITNs for disease prevention
  • Improved information system - including epidemics
  • Comprehensive national drug policy
  • Improved communications
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Inter-country component
  • Surveillance and information system
  • Human resource development
  • Advocacy
  • Networking and communication: EC: Mekong Malaria Forum and www.mekong-malaria.org
  • Evaluation and research
  • Quality assurance
  • Improved access at borders - e.g. “Twin clinics”
First slide  Previous slide  Next slide  Last slide  Back to the list of documents

 

 

Summary

Commitment among the 6 countries to:

  • work together

  • solve their common problems

  • harmonise their strategies with the support of partners
First slide  Previous slide  Back to the list of documents