Radio Emissions on Malaria for Peace Corps Volunteers
Theme: Malaria Prevention through the use of an Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets every night
Target Group: Pregnant Women and Guardians of Children under 5
Length: 30 minutes
General Objective: Reduce the incidence of malaria among pregnant women and children under 5 through the use of mosquito nets
Specific Objectives:
· All pregnant women and children under 5 sleep under a mosquito net every night
· Increase the populations knowledge about malaria and the importance of sleeping under a mosquito net every night
Note: We do not want to create demand for services that are not available. Please do your research first to ensure that the services you are promoting (mosquito nets, IPT for pregnant women, CTA etc) are available in your village. If not, contact me and we can work on a plan to make these services available before doing the radio emission.
Steps:
· Invite a resource person like a nurse or community health worker
· Guest Briefing: Practice the questions and responses you would like to receive with your invited guest before the radio show to ensure that all information broadcast is accurate and complete and that no misinformation is disseminated
· Broadcast Radio Show
· Evaluate Radio Show
Important Questions to Ask:
· What causes malaria?
o Mosquito bites are the only cause of malaria. Mosquitoes that transmit malaria are more active between sunset and sunrise (during the night)
o The sun, oil, peanuts or [insert other local beliefs here] do not cause malaria
· What groups have the greatest risk of contracting serious malaria or developing severe complications due to malaria?
o Children under 5 years of age
o Pregnant women
· What are the consequences of contracting malaria?
o In children under 5 years old, malaria can lead to anemia, developmental delays or death.
o In pregnant women, malaria can lead to anemia, false labor or pre-mature birth, still birth of the baby or death of mother.
· How can you prevent malaria?
o Sleeping under a insecticide treated mosquito nets
o Covering doors and windows with screens
o Getting rid of standing water
o Cutting herbs and other plants close to the house
· Why are insecticide treated mosquito nets effective?
o Insecticide treated mosquito nets are a physical and chemical barrier. The treated nets repel and kill mosquitoes and other insects.
o Treated mosquito nets reduce the number of mosquitoes in the room.
· Is the insecticide dangerous for humans?
o No, insecticide is not harmful or toxic for humans
· Where are insecticide treated mosquito nets available?
o Health centers, boutiques, women's groups, market [list specific places in your village that sell nets]
· How much do insecticide treated mosquito nets cost?
o Mosquito nets are free at health centers for children under 5 who receive their vaccinations and for pregnant women who attend prenatal consultations
o mosquito nets from women's groups or boutiques are available to everyone and cost 1.000 FCFA
· When should insecticide treated mosquito nets be used?
o Mosquito nets should be used every night
Final Message: Sleeping under an insecticide treated mosquito net every night protects pregnant women and children under 5 from malaria. Purchase an insecticide treated mosquito net to protect your family today. Insecticide Treated Mosquito nets are available at [insert locations in your village where mosquito nets can be purchased] for 1.000 FCFA.
Theme: Malaria Prevention through the use of IPT in Pregnant Women
Target Group: Pregnant Women
Length: 30 minutes
General Objective: Reduce the incidence of malaria among pregnant women
Specific Objectives:
· Encourage all women to attend prenatal consultations and receive 2 doses of IPT
· Increase the knowledge of pregnant women and their husbands about the advantages of IPT
Note: We do not want to create demand for services that are not available. Please do your research first to ensure that the services you are promoting (mosquito nets, IPT for pregnant women, CTA etc) are available in your village. If not, contact me and we can work on a plan to make these services available before doing the radio emission.
Steps:
· Invite a resource person like a midwife or nurse
· Guest Briefing: Practice the questions and responses you would like to receive with your invited guest before the radio show to ensure that all information broadcast is accurate and complete and that no misinformation is disseminated
· Broadcast Radio Show
· Evaluate Radio Show
Important Questions to Ask:
· What are the consequences of malaria for pregnant women?
o Anemia
o False labor or pre-mature birth
o Still birth of the baby
o Death of mother
o Low Birth Weight
o Hemorrhaging during delivery
· How can pregnant women prevent malaria?
o Pregnant women should sleep under an insecticide treated bed net every night
o Pregnant women should also attend prenatal consultations at the health center in order to receive intermittent preventative treatment (IPT) for malaria
· What is IPT and when should pregnant women receive IPT?
o IPT is a malaria prophylaxis which consists of 3 pills of SP (Sulfadoxine/ Pyrimethamine)
o Pregnant women should receive two doses of SP, once during the second trimester and again during the third trimester (during the 16th and 36th week of pregnancy)
· Where can women receive IPT and how much does it cost?
o Women receive the treatment at health centers while attending their prenatal consultations
o IPT is free for all pregnant women attending their prenatal consultations
· What are the signs and symptoms that a pregnant women is suffering from malaria?
o Fever
o Headache and body aches
o Lethargy or fatigue
o Vomiting
o Chills
· What should they do if they become sick with these symptoms?
o Pregnant women need to immediately go to a health center for diagnosis and treatment
o Treatment should not be delayed. The longer a pregnant women waits the greater the risk of death for her and her baby
Final Message: Pregnant women should attend prenatal consultations at least twice during their pregnancy to receive IPT and protect them and their unborn child from malaria. If a pregnant woman shows signs of malaria, they should immediately seek treatment at a health center.
Theme: Malaria Treatment with CTA
Target Group: Guardians of Children under 5
Length: 30 minutes
General Objective: Increase the number of children under 5 who begin ACT treatment in the first 24 hours of fever onset.
Specific Objectives:
· Increase the number of parents or guardians of under 5 who take their children to the health center or community health worker for treatment in the first 24 hours following the appearance of malaria symptoms
· Increase the knowledge of parents or guardians of children under 5 about the signs and symptoms associated with uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria
Note: We do not want to create demand for services that are not available. Please do your research first to ensure that the services you are promoting (mosquito nets or IPT for pregnant women, CTA etc) are available in your village. If not, contact me and we can work on a plan to make these services available before doing the radio emission.
Steps:
· Invite a resource person like a nurse or community health worker
· Invite a mother who practiced good behavior and recently sought malaria treatment at the local health center for her child within the first 24 hours of fever onset to share her experiences
· Guest Briefing: Practice the questions and responses you would like to receive with your invited guest before the radio show to ensure that all information broadcast is accurate and complete and that no misinformation is disseminated
· Broadcast Radio Show
· Evaluate Radio Show
Important Questions to Ask:
· How old is your child? (mother)
o Any age between 6 months and 5 years old is appropriate
· When did your child develop a fever? (mother)
· Did your child display other symptoms? (mother and health agent)
o Chills
o Vomiting
o Lack of appetite
· What are the signs of uncomplicated malaria? (health agent)
o Fever
o Hot Body
o Chills
o Headache
o Vomiting
· What are the signs of severe malaria? (health agent)
o The signs of uncomplicated malaria and at least one sign of danger or seriousness
o Signs of danger are :
§ Inability to drink or breastfeed
§ Seizures
§ Lethargic or weakness
§ Loss of consciousness
§ Severe anemia (pale coloring)
o Signs of seriousness are :
§ Severe anemia
§ seizures
§ Coma
· How long did you wait before taking your child to the health center and why? (mother)
o I did not wait. I took the child to the health center immediately because I wanted to get the correct medicine for my child quickly
· What did the health center staff say your child suffers from? (mother)
o They said my child had malaria
· What type of treatment was your child given by the staff at the health center? (mother)
o My child received CTA medication to treat malaria
· Are other medications available to treat malaria? (health worker)
o No CTA is the only approved medication for the treatment of malaria. Chloroquine is no longer effective.
· How long does the treatment last? And did your child have to finish the full course of treatment? (Mother and health worker)
o The CTA dosage for children under 5 years old is one pill twice a day for three days
o The health worker said my child should finish all of the medication even if he does not have a fever anymore and feels better
· Do you have any advice for other mothers whose children develop a fever? (mother and health worker)
o Go to the health center immediately so that your child can start treatment and avoid serious complications due to malaria.
o If the fever continues for 2 days after starting treatment, return to the health center
Final Message: Quick and correct treatment of malaria in children under 5 will prevent serious complications and death due to malaria. Children under 5 should go to the health center within 24 hours of fever onset to receive CTA treatment.