Participatory involvement of farming communities and public sectors in determining malaria control strategies in Mvomero District, Tanzania

Abstract

Addressing the malaria-agriculture linkages requires a broad inter-disciplinary and integrated approach that involves farming communities and key public sectors. In this paper, we report results of participatory involvement of farming communities in determining malaria control strategies in Mvomero District, Tanzania. A seminar involving local government leaders, health and agricultural officials comprising of a total of 27 participants was held. Public meetings in villages of Komtonga, Mbogo, Mkindo, Dihombo and Luhindo followed this. Findings from a research on the impact of agricultural practices on malaria burden in the district were shared with local communities, public sector officials and other key stakeholders as a basis for a participatory discussion. The community and key stakeholders had an opportunity to critically examine the linkages between agricultural practices and malaria in their villages and to identify problems and propose practical solutions. Several factors were identified as bottlenecks in the implementation of malaria control in the area. Lack of community participation and decision making in malaria interventions was expressed as among the major constraints. This denied the community the opportunities of determining their health priorities and accessing knowledge needed to effectively implement malaria interventions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of participatory approach that involves community and other key stakeholders in malaria control using an ecosystem approach. An interdisciplinary and integrated approach is needed to involve farmers and more than one sector in malaria control effort.

Mosquito larval productivity in rice-fields infested with Azolla in Mvomero District, Tanzania

“…The fact that Azolla lives in symbiotic association with the blue alga, Anabaena azollae, and that it fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere can be promoted as cheap alternative for chemical fertilizers in irrigated rice fields. It is important that farmers are encouraged to introduce Azolla into their rice fields as it is currently being done at the Mkindo Farmers Training Centre in Mvomero District (Mlozi et al, 2006). Community education on Azolla should stress its advantage of reducing weed growth, improvement of soil fertility and mosquito control.…”

“…The plant was introduced during the early 1980s as a bio-fertilizer in rice fields. In recent years, the use of Azolla in rice farms has been promoted (Mlozi et al, 2006). The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of Azolla coverage on the mosquito productivity in rice-fields so as to establish its potential in malaria vector control in Tanzania.…”

Community Participation in Malaria Control in Olorunda Local Government Area, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria

“…Community participation promotes self-awareness and confidence, causes people to examine their problems and to think positively about the solutions. It increases the sense of control over issues that affect the lives of community members in this case the scourge of malaria (Mlozi et al, 2006). Since malaria is a problem that affects the community, every community over time has had its local realities, strengths and limitations as regards managing the scourge of malaria.…”

Urban agriculture and Anopheles habitats in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…An integrated vector control programme could consider two strategies. First, farmers could be trained and actively involved in environmental vector control (Sawio 1998;Mlozi et al, 2006;Mboera et al, 2007), for example by establishing farmer field schools (van den Berg and Knols, 2006;van den Berg et al, 2007) targeting farmers in agro-ecosystems most at risk of anopheline breeding. Agricultural extension services might play an important role in this respect, for example by promoting locally tailored environmental management practices such as planting of fruit trees as an additional crop to provide shade over water bodies (WHO, 1982;Rafatjah, 1988;Walker and Lynch, 2007) and by combining agriculture and forestry (agroforestry) in general (Swallow and Ochola, 2006).…”