MYANMAR

The MENTOR Initiative’s Response

The MENTOR Initiative began its Cyclone Nargis response in late May 2008 and continued the relief intervention until August 2009, thanks to a grant from OFDA/USAID and donations from private Organizations (AmeriCares, Syngenta, BASF). Working relationships were developed with key players in the health field and the assistance offered by MENTOR focused on 3 main sectors:

1. Training of health staff on malaria and dengue case management and prevention.
In total 837 participants coming from 20 International NGOs, 6 Local NGOs, 4 local
organizations and 1 international Company attended 48 courses organized by The MENTOR Initiative.

2. Material donations and technical assistance in malaria and dengue control interventions.

The following materials were supplied and used or distributed by local partners (NGOs,
UNICEF, IOM, Myanmar Red Cross, MoH):

• 43,200 blisters of Coartem, donated by AmeriCares
• 29,635 vials of Artemether, donated by AmeriCares
• 44 tons of Temephos (Abate®), donated by AmeriCares
• 2 tons of the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (Icon®) for IRS, donated by Syngenta
• 75,000 LLINs (Interceptor®), donated by BASF
• 81,000 Rapid Diagnostic Tests, purchased with the OFDA grant
• 102 hand sprayers and other IRS equipment (protective suits, face visors, gloves, boots) purchased with the OFDA grant.

In June 2008, a large scale dengue prevention programme, (including the use of Abate larvicide ), was launched in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions in a coordinated effort involving the MoH, WHO, UNICEF, The MENTOR Initiative and other NGOs. This emergency intervention was successfully implemented in many key at risk areas and no dengue epidemics subsequently occurred.

3. Dengue control project in 2 Townships of Yangon Division

The success of the Dengue Control Initiative carried out immediately after Cyclone Nargis prompted the request of extended support In March 2009 a Project Agreement was signed between the Department of Health and The MENTOR Initiative for the implementation of a 6 month Project for Dengue prevention and control in the two Townships of Hlaingtharyar and Insein in Yangon Division.

The community-based Dengue control project was planned and executed in collaboration with the local health services and the involvement of 2,000 volunteers, 60,000 households, 55 schools, 970 teachers and 40,000 students: an estimated 363,100 beneficiaries. During 15 Saturdays, from 9th May to 15th August 2009, 2,000 volunteers mobilized 60,000 households in the execution of dengue source reduction activities (cleaning and/or covering of water containers, disposal of discarded containers) and the implementation of two rounds of larviciding with Temephos (Abate®).

A baseline and a post-intervention survey, including an entomological and a KAP component, were also carried out to assess the impact of the campaign on key behavioral and larvae density indicators. A large array of communication tools were deployed to obtain a sustained and motivated involvement of the communities in the prevention activities: 2,200 T-shirts, 61,000 leaflets, 41,000 worksheets for schoolchildren, 4,000 posters, 400 flags, 1 billboard.