Digitalized long-lasting insecticidal nets mass distribution campaign in the context of Covid-19 pandemic in Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo: challenges and lessons learned

Likwela, Joris Losimba; Ngwala, Phillipe Lukanu; Ntumba, Albert Kalonji; Ntale, Deogratias Cibinda; Sompwe, Eric Mukomena; Mpiana, Godé Kanyeba; Tshula, Joseph Kalonji; Likwela, Tathy Kalonda; Kanku-Ka-Munabe, Patrick; Kumbi, Adrien N.’siala; Ndahambara, Gilbert Kulimushi; Ntale, Helen Cibinda; Kiamenga, Michele Luntadila; Njila, Jules Kabongo; Yav, Ghislain Makhan; Baneti, Didier Gasigwa; Austin, Julian

doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04258-8

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Although there was early evidence of service recovery, nearly all 129 countries were still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic [ 30 ]. However, the revision of standards of campaign implementation during COVID-19, as well as effective coordination supported by real-time decision making through digital data management, have been factors in the success of this campaign [ 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis

et al. 2023

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Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Africa, and the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have negatively impacted malaria control. Here, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological analysis of malaria globally, and preliminarily explored the impact of COVID-19 on the malaria elimination program in regions of Africa (AFR). The present analysis found that there was a vast heterogeneity of incidence of deaths caused by malaria globally in different continents, and the highest malaria burden was observed in AFR. In 2020, there was an obviously increasing trend in the malaria epidemic in AFR, while the other four continents exhibited stable and declining patterns. Historically, malaria has been largely concentrated in high-malaria-burden regions, such as West Africa, and there has been an obvious increasing trend in Nigeria. These data suggest that dynamic changes in the malaria epidemic situation worldwide have primarily originated from AFR, and West Africa has played an important role in the global malaria increase in recent years. Under the coercion of COVID-19, multiple factors have co-driven the increase in malaria in AFR, including insufficient financial investments, a high native malaria burden, weak surveillance systems, limited medical resources, and low socioeconomic development levels. In addition, the shift of medical resources (e.g., health workers and personal protective equipment (PPE), the manufacturing of diagnostic reagents, and drugs) from malaria control to emergency COVID-19 response in the pandemic’s early stage caused disruptions, reductions, and delays in pillar malaria control measures, leading to a significant negative impact on malaria control. In particular, a funding shortfall at both the international and domestic levels led to a “significant threat,” resulting in vast gaps in access to proven malaria control tools. Although there has been a declining trend in malaria control over time due to COVID-19, the effect still cannot be ignored. Hence, we recommend the implementation of medical and technical resource assistance as a priority strategy to support Africa (West Africa) in order to curb further transmission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis

et al. 2023

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“…Capping the maximum number of nets had limited success in reducing excesses of household members. Studies in other countries document similar occurrences [ 30 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Data could be utilized to redistribute LLINs from villages with excess nets to those depleted on the distribution days. Electronic data management has been used in LLIN campaigns in other countries, providing effective implementation of the campaign activities [ 25 , 30 ]. Adapting EDMIS for other settings and initiatives, such as childhood immunization days, is proposed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mass distribution campaign of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: lessons learned

Aguma,

Rukaari,

Nakamatte

et al. 2023

Malar J

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Background Uganda implemented its third mass campaign to distribute long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This context necessitated modification of implementation guidelines. The mass campaign's objective was to ensure that at least 85% of the targeted population had access to LLINs. Methods Revised implementation guidelines were followed while conducting the LLIN distribution campaign. Lessons learned were captured from documented activities and reports. Results A total of 27,789,044 mosquito nets were distributed in 11,287,392 households, with an average of 5.1 persons per household. Household coverage of the LLIN distribution was 94.1%. The 2020/2021 campaign design was modified to follow COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These included using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), e-platforms for training and briefing meetings, electronic data management systems and door-to-door household registration and distribution of LLINs. Conclusions Campaign modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic were effective in implementing mass distribution of LLINs despite the disruptions and restrictions. The campaign’s net coverage far exceeded its objective. Electronic data management was critical in monitoring and reporting distribution activities.

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“…Indeed, digital tools require information and communication infrastructure, the ability to use that infrastructure, a relatively stable supply of electricity and people to maintain and support the infrastructure [ 9 ]. Currently, only 40% of people in Africa use the Internet, and the data-only mobile broadband basket prices as % of gross national income per capita is 5%, 12.5 times higher than in Europe and 3.6 times higher than in Asia-Pacific [ 10 ]. Mobile phone penetration is reported to be 64%, a figure which is skewed because penetration is calculated on the number of subscriptions, that is the number of Sim cards in circulation and not the number of people using mobile phones [ 9 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A roadmap for the digital management of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) distribution campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Likwela¹,

Ciula²,

Ntumba³

et al. 2023

Pan Afr Med J

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The use of the long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net (LLIN) is one of the basic interventions recommended by the Global technical strategy for Malaria 2016-2030. Since the start of the LLIN distribution campaigns in 2006 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it was based on paper tools leading to poor quality data. The first digital campaigns date back to 2014 through “Interchurch medical assistance” (IMA), which used the ODK collect application for recording household count data and LLIN distribution data. In 2020 “Soins de santé primaire en milieu Rurale” (SANRU) developed both household registration and LLIN distribution data recording forms as well as additional modules for supervision, monitoring and training. This article briefly describes the status of the implementation process of this digital-based management of LIIN mass distribution. During the first half of 2020, a roadmap was developed between Sanru and the Global fund to fight Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria (GFTAM) on the objectives of digitization, the data to be digitized, and the timelines for implementing the changes. In the last quarter of 2021, an internal Sanru team composed of some members of its technical management, and staff in charge of the digitization of LLIN mass distribution campaign data participated in a document review of the deliverables in comparison with the roadmap and in group discussions. For recording household enumeration data and distribution data, forms configured on smartphones allow data recording and uploading without going through manual calculations and previously necessary transcriptions with management based on paper tools, thus removing sources of errors. Online data delivery and automated production of dashboards allow real-time sharing of information to all stakeholders and shorten data validation times. Feedback to actors in the field is possible thanks to access to information and maps generated on the basis of geolocation data from households. ODK forms for supervision and monitoring have been put in place to ensure that these activities are effectively deployed in the field in accordance with the standards set by geolocating the actors and using the data transmitted online for interactive feedback. The next step is to develop a material flow management module to improve the traceability of inputs.

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Digitalized long-lasting insecticidal nets mass distribution campaign in the context of Covid-19 pandemic in Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo: challenges and lessons learned

Cited by 10 publications

References 13 publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis

Mass distribution campaign of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: lessons learned

A roadmap for the digital management of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) distribution campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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