Project Outcomes
In regard to Objective 1 UGC was successful in gaining authorization to participate in Ministry of Education and Ministry of Development 2010 planning sessions. Upon attending these meetings, UGC pushed for malaria to be a higher priority in terms of inclusion of education and information activities for children, as well as information kits for health representatives when visiting schools. Using the evidence of the effect of malaria through Mozambique UGC successfully advocated that money should be used not only in relation to the Ministry of health but also in other relevant ministries as Education, Environment and Agriculture. This prompted further meetings with these ministries to discuss the malaria burden and how the ministries could participate. By the end of the project five additional ministries, namely, Education, Planning and Development, Agriculture, Tourism and Environment had begun to make such inclusions.
It is particularly encouraging to note that malaria commodities access is now considered by the Ministry of Planning and Development a strategic approach in poverty reduction interventions. As a result malaria control actions will be part of a Poverty Reduction Action Plan for the next five years (2009-2013). UGC participated in various meetings and discussions in preparation for this plan, to make sure malaria was included on the agenda.
In regard to Objectives 2 and 3 UGC saw great success through increased private sector commitment for malaria control. Their participation has increased from only Mozal dealing with malaria control to several other national and foreign investments in Mozambique now considering the issue. There are examples of big enterprises as Kennmar, Mcel and Soico that have introduced malaria control related interventions as part of their social responsibilities activities. In part, this success resulted from malaria discussions in Economic Associations Confederations (CTA) and from a malaria exhibition in the CTA national meeting.
During this event cooperates were exposed to malaria related pictures and received various malaria stories in a booklet with a focus on the malaria burden in the workplace and in families, where the breadwinner often loses their job because of malaria. It’s believed that this interest will be maintained because as a result of this project a “malaria business group” was created, directed by Business against Aids Forum (ECOSIDA). ECOSIDA has contributed to an increase in HIV/AIDS awareness in workplace in Mozambique and are now currently doing the same for malaria, creating opportunities for LLIN access by workers, getting private sector support for RDTs, ACTs and training on this commodities use at community level.
This is an example of how an innovation grant has spurned further organisations to get involved in the fight against malaria. This projects success was reached with support of various Mozambique champions Joaquim Chissano (former president), Maria da Luz Guebuza (First Lady) and Dom Dinis Sengulane (Libombos Diocese Bishop). They gave support in advocacy work and will continue mobilizing resources to scale up the malaria commodities access through their respective institutions that they work for. On World Malaria Day 2008 there was a First Lady Campaign, which together with private sector institutions, made available to periphery paediatric units LLINs and drugs.
For More Information
Please contact Fernandes Domingos at ugcapm@tvcabo.co.mz
