Application of a community-based participatory approach towards malaria elimination in the eastern province of Rwanda

Despite recent developments in malaria control, malaria remains one of the major public health problems across the globe with high morbidity and mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The malaria elimination program in eastern Rwanda (MEPR) was designed with the aim to deploy community-driven approaches in malaria elimination using four integrated disciplines: biomedical sciences, social and behavioural science, medical entomology and health economics. In conclusion, commitment of the community in sustaining gains achieved in malaria control is of importance. The use of additional and context-based malaria control tools such as the community-based larval source management program should be envisaged and embedded under the national malaria control strategy to accelerate the country’s goal of achieving malaria pre-elimination levels by 2018.
Some recommendations based on our work have been adopted by the government. We stressed the importance of community health workers to also diagnose and treat malaria in adults in addition to children under five and this has been adopted by the national malaria control program.