Community based Strategy for distribution of ITNs in Kikimi health zone (DRC) By Dr Willy Kabuya Malaria Advisor BASICS/DRC

Kimpese Kinshasa

Objectives  50 % of household having at least one ITN  60 % of children under 5 and pregnant women sleeping under bednet

Kikimi Bisengo Lobiko Bosembo Mikondo Marechal Ngampani Mfumu Nkento ) Organization CO

Organization (Con’d)  Main warehouse at district office  One sub-warehouse at each health area  Each area subdivided in 6 to 8 cells  One community volunteer responsible for each cell (250 – 350 households)  Community volunteers continuously provided in nets and insecticide from sub-warehouses  Continuous social mobilization  Volunteers selling ITNs door to door in their respective cells. Also demonstrate users how to impregnate and how to hang their ITN

Volunteers responsibilities  Communication for behavioral change (theater, megaphone, announcements in church and marketplace…)  Distribution/selling ITNs  Weekly report elaboration  Data collection during monthly survey

Implementing activities  Prepare the distribution area  Elaboration of data collection documents and census form  Identification and training of community volunteers  Household census  Social mobilization  ITN Distribution/selling  Monitoring household coverage

Data collection  Weekly report from each volunteer, centralized at health center level  Monthly survey on a calculated sample of households

RESULTS

ITNs distribution in Kikimi Weekly household coverage evolution (June 9 th to September 15 th 2002)

Bisengo Kikimi Lobiko Update date : September 4, 2002 Bosembo Mikondo Marechal Pilot Health Zone of Kikimi Monitoring the distribution of ITNs : Week 12 Mfumu Nkento Ngampani 14,7 15,5 23,5 34, ,4 12,7 27,5 %HseHold With MII (HZ Kikimi, Kinshasa) 10.0 to19.9 (3) 20.0 to29.9 (2) 30.0 to49.9 (3) Health Zone Coverage : 26,1%

Comments  Collaboration of community volunteers contributed to increase household coverage (25 %)  Commercial activities influence is clear for higher coverage  Coverage of children under 5 and pregnant women needs to be accelerated

Perspectives  Reinforce Social Marketing with collaboration of partners (UNICEF, PSI)  Advocate for ITNs subside, at least for children under 5 and pregnant women (as SANRU in Kimpese health zone)  Take advantage of ITN distribution by community volunteers to improve other IMCI activities such as EPI, nutrition and malaria case management