Despite steady global advances in the fight against malaria over the last decade, The World Health Organization’s 2018 World Malaria Report indicated that between 2017 and 2018, the global number of malaria deaths remained the same. In Zambia, thanks to the collaboration between the United States and Zambian governments, malaria deaths continue to decline. 

In order to maintain and accelerate progress, with support from the United States’ President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the Impact Malaria (IM) program contributes to work toward the reduction of malaria morbidity and mortality, while moving Zambia towards national or subnational pre-elimination.

Impact Malaria works across 23 districts in Central and Copperbelt Provinces to support the Zambian National Malaria Elimination Center’s (NMEC) strategic plan. In alignment with NMEC’s priorities, IM activities focus on providing effective and efficient diagnosis and treatment to patients at health facilities and in community settings. The program also targets the prevention and management of malaria in pregnancy, advocates for stronger malaria health systems, and improves the use of data for analysis and decision-making at central, provincial and district offices. Key activities include:

● Building the capacity of supervisors in quality assurance of rapid diagnostic tests;

● Coaching lab technicians on malaria microscopy skills;

● Conducting refresher training for clinical case management;

● Supporting supervisors to use outreach training and supportive supervision tools;

● Addressing high staff turnover rates through regular clinical and diagnostic refresher training; and,

● Working at national level to harmonize outreach, training, and supportive supervision plans and policy.

JOURNEY TO SELF-RELIANCE

USAID believes every person, every community, and every country wants to be empowered to lead their own future. We support self-reliance by walking alongside our friends on their development journey, as evolving but enduring partners.  As partners on this journey, we are empowering host-country governments and our partners to achieve locally-sustainable results, helping countries mobilize public and private revenues, strengthening local capacities, and accelerating enterprise-driven development.  This approach fosters stable, resilient, and prosperous countries that are more self-reliant, and prioritizes enduring partnerships.