Chad

The MENTOR Initiative’s Response

Several NGOs have been providing essential primary health-care and non-medical support to some of the most vulnerable communities. However, malaria has remained the number one challenge in these areas. The Government of Chad has supported the introduction of new and effective malaria control policies, including the use of ACTs (Artestunate – Amodiaquine) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests, and in partnership with NGOs and support agencies has sanctioned the country-wide deployment of these efficacious tools in an effort to better combat and control malaria.

The MENTOR Initiative has provided large scale malaria control support with the MoH, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and NGO partners from in both eastern Chads Dar Sila Health District and southern Chad Danamadji and Gore Districts. Two specialist MENTOR malaria control teams, one in the east and one in the south have reinforced and significantly expanding coverage of effective malaria prevention, and provision of accurate malaria case management to victims in some of the most vulnerable host communities, camps, health centres and district hospitals.   

Universal coverage LLIN campaigns have reached all refugees, IDPs and host communities in the Dar Sila region, providing protection to over 190,000. Post rainy season surveys showed a retention and usage rate of over 80% an astounding figure. The prevention interventions of LLINs, IRS and education coupled with the strengthening of the health system to provide confirmatory diagnosis and ACTs has seen the proportion on malaria consultations at the health facility decrease from 23% in 2006 to less than 4% in 2009.

Southern Chad support has focused on the close to 70 000 refugees in the five camps: Moula, Yaroungou, Gondje, Amboko and Dosseye. The burden of malaria is greater in the south where both IRS campaigns are coupled with universal coverage LLIN distributions to protect these vulnerable groups.