Planning, Implementation and Monitoring of a Nationwide Campaign to Deliver Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets in the Gambia

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJAR.2014.11.03.Art010

Authors : Ousman B Njie, Balla Gibba, Adama Jagne Sonko

Abstract:

In 2022, The Gambia conducted a nationwide long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) distribution campaign. This article describes the planning, implementation and monitoring of the campaign. The campaign was jointly conducted with Senegal as part of cross border collaboration towards malaria elimination. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used for reporting the campaign. It was a collaborative approach, involving government and non-governmental organizations and communities. The DHIS2 tracker was used for digital data collection with mobile phone devices to register households and issue coupons for one LLIN per two persons as distribution criterion. The campaign was implemented in two phases, household registration and distribution phases. This approach allowed registration and distribution of LLINs at the same time along the borders of the two countries and for continuous improvement of implementation quality. A total of 1,164,552 LLINs were actually distributed between June to July 2022, corresponding to 90% of projected LLIN needs. This result is an indication of a national coverage of 72% of the registered population, lower than the universal campaign coverage of 80%. The joint coordination and planning process among campaign players allowed the national malaria control program (NMCP) and partners to successfully conduct a synchronized campaign with the neighbouring country Senegal. This campaign has increased access to LLINs in households which is likely to result in increased LLIN use with continuous education on the benefits. Consequently, a reduction of the malaria burden in the country, thus contributing to the achievement of the country’s goal of malaria elimination.

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