BUJUMBURA November 26th (ABP) – The Ministry of Public Health and AIDS Control (MSPLS), through its Integrated National Malaria Control Program (PNILP) and in collaboration with the health province of Bujumbura (west of Burundi), organized Tuesday and Wednesday, in Ijenda in Mugongomanga commune, an awareness-raising workshop on the new strategy to fight against malaria, advocated by the government of Burundi, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
According to Mr. Jérémie Sindayikengera of PNILP, despite the curative care, the distribution of long-acting insecticide-treated mosquito nets and the spraying campaigns, we have not succeeded in eradicating malaria in Burundi. The government therefore had to adopt another strategy, which is the fight against malaria through social and community dialogue.
That involves involving several actors, namely administrative officials, members of the defense and security forces, members of civil society, members of religious denominations and those in the sector of the environment in order to combine efforts. to achieve the effective fight against malaria
through transversal responses, he meant.
The objective of the popularization of that strategy is that in 2030, there will be zero deaths due to malaria, he stressed, indicating that to achieve that end, they will soon organize the campaign “zero malaria I agree”.
According to Mr. Sindayikengera, the approach of social and community dialogue makes it possible to promote community participation in the planning of actions aimed at developing the perception of personal effectiveness on health issues, and encouraging the community to take ownership of planning and finding solutions to health problems. It also helps communities to reach consensus on how best to solve certain health problems within their community and to strengthen relationships of mutual trust between health systems and the community. The other strength of that approach is to help build a sense of social responsibility in health, to mobilize community support for volunteer health workers and to develop skills in community engagement and change of social behavior, in a sustainable manner.