School sensitization on Malaria – GaMSA Gambia

Name of the activity: School sensitization on Malaria

Country/NMO: GaMSA Gambia

Program: Communicable Diseases

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: First-time Activity

Category: Education

Focus area: Prevention of Communicable Diseases | Malaria

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education)

Problem statement:

Although the burden of Malaria in The Gambia has dropped from 275 cases per 1000 population in 2010 to 57 cases per 1000 population in 2017, We face a complex situation which deals with the use of malaria drugs without prescription and the failure to take preventive measures towards the vectors. These two problems become a cycle from increase infection of malaria to reduce efficacy of the drug, hence increasing the burden.

Target groups:

• Other Students
• Youth

Beneficiaries:

• General population
• Youth

Objectives:

– Teaching Grade 12 student in Bakoteh upper and senior secondary school on prevention of Malaria and importance of testing before treatment

– Improving their knowledge through questions and answers.

Indicators of Success:

– Students being able to explain to us the ways of prevention

– Students being able to explain to us why it the important to test before treatment

Methodology:

Sending a letter and requesting a visit to the principal of the school.

After the meeting, a date was agreed upon which was the 25th of April 2022.

Posters were created, with important points on Malaria

On the day, 6 members of SCOPH visited the school

Three members spoke on Malaria, symptoms, prevention and malaria drug abuse.

Three other members facilitated the question and answer sections.

Plans for evaluation:

An essay competition were the students would be asked to write on why prevention of Malaria is important

External collaborations:

none