Lawrence Mweemba, a community health worker in Zambia, can’t remember the last time he had malaria.
“Maybe 20 years ago?” he said.
Fortunately, this is the case for many people living in the country’s Southern Province, where more than 60 percent of malaria cases are now managed at the community level.
In Chikankata District, the goal is not to manage malaria, but to end it. The flow of timely and accurate malaria data tracks remaining transmission, and a confirmed case triggers a comprehensive response to contain the infection and prevent spread.
Community health workers are volunteers nominated by their communities to provide care at the household level. They are trained to test, treat, and track malaria; review and report malaria data; support vector control campaigns; and educate and sensitize communities on malaria. They also identify and refer cases of diarrhea, malnutrition,…
