Advocacy in Zambia - Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA)

This two-page factsheet, published by PATH, provides an overview of the approach to advocacy that the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) in Zambia takes to ensure that preventing and treating malaria is a priority in government offices, district health agencies, and the homes of those who are vulnerable to the disease.

Sustaining national support
According to the report, convening strategic meetings and awareness-raising events - for example, formal updates on the malaria programme with member's of parliament and support events on Africa Malaria Day - is an important part of this work. However, much of the national advocacy efforts is more suble, focusing more on strengthening partner linkages and communication. Harmonising the activities of governmental, non-governmental, faith-based, and private-sector organisations in support of sustained malaria prevention and control is a central theme.

Engaging provinces and districts
The report explains that to sustain advocacy at the provincial and district levels, MACEPA works to ensure that health officials, political leaders, and implementing partners are familiar with the national malaria plan and understand their role in it. This also includes Paramount Chiefs, whom authors say hold considerable influence over public opinion. These traditional leaders are engaged in an ongoing dialogue about the impact of malaria and efforts to reduce it. According to the report, Chiefs have embraced their role as malaria "ambassadors" within their communities.

Helping people and communities stop malaria
Changing long-held beliefs, habits, and priorities that impede malaria prevention within communities is also a challenge. MACEPA works with national partners to identify trusted sources of information, and reach out to influential groups - including religious leaders, women's groups, and community radio announcers - to ensure they speak out loudly, accurately, and consistently about preventing malaria in their communities. Formal training is provided, which allows tailored malaria messages to be delivered in local languages by respected leaders, health workers, or radio presenters.

Evidence is the best advocacy
According to the report, advocacy and communication at all levels in Zambia - national planning, district-level training, and encouraging healthy behaviours in communities - guide both the building and sharing of the Zambian experience. MACEPA views accurate documentation of the process, progress, and lessons learned as central to growing the evidence base in support of national malaria control. The report states that policymakers, scientists, health workers, community leaders, and mothers are all stakeholders, all have voices that must be heard in order to achieve a sustained commitment to malaria control. Enabling Zambia to succeed and tell its own stories is therefore central to moving malaria control forward in Africa.