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Feature Article of Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Columnist: Braimah, Sulemana

By Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa.

The ECOWAS is about to roll out a major health sector intervention aimed at eliminating malaria from the region through the application of a substance called biolarvicides. Biolarvicdes, which is said to be very effective in killing malaria-bearing mosquitoes at their larvae development stage, is said to have been applied successfully to eliminate malaria in other parts of the world.

So far, very significant preparatory activities have been undertaken. The construction of three strategic factories in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, for the production of the anti-malarial substance is underway. The first of what is expected to be a series of region-wide sensitisation meetings to discuss strategies for implementing the programme, also took place in Abidjan on March 31, 2014.

The application of biolarvicides for the elimination of malaria across the West Africa region is scheduled to commence on May 28, a day celebrated annually as ECOWAS Day.

Even though there have been several malaria control and prevention programmes in the region over the years, two things make the impending campaign different, significant and promising. Firstly, it is arguably the first time there is going to be a region-wide anti-malaria programme led by the ECOWAS. Secondly, it is the first time, there is going to be such a broad anti-malaria programme through the application of biolarvicides.

Unfortunately, even though the date set for the commencement of the application of biolarvicdes is just a month away, there has been barely any public awareness of the entire programme. This is definitely not good for the programme.

For a major health programme such as the one under reference, public awareness, understanding and support is very crucial and this is where the media comes in.

Given that the media (both traditional and new media) remain the main sources of public information, and also the fact that they continue to wield enormous influence in setting public agenda, the malaria elimination programme will require massive support from the media in order to succeed.

See the article here:
Why the ECOWAS Malaria Campaign Must Prioritise Media Involvement