Location: Indonesia - Lembata

Situation:

The country is in a very fragile health and socio-economic situation. Lembata province displays a high level of social inequality in terms of health and high prevalence of communicable diseases. In Western Papua, the AIDS epidemic spreads and maternal and infant mortality is rising. The supportive links that Doctors of the World shares with the local NGO  Primari and the health authorities facilitate access to healthcare.

Activities:

Doctors of the World (DOW) carries out its programme tackling malaria in the heart of the most affected communities on the island, where the disease in endemic (above 20%). Two mobile teams are in charge of the early identification and the treatment of the illness. In addition to an entomological study, DOW has carried out two 'malaria-metric' studies, the first at the beginning and the second at the end of the programme, that will allow us to measure its impact. The teams have also provided training on prevention and treatment of malaria to healthcare personnel,  technicians from eight laboratories in district health centres and community health agents.

Outlook:

100% of the laboratory technicians have been trained in identifying malaria. 8,300 mosquito nets were distributed, benefiting 14,082 people.