In response to these surveys and the evident gap in delivering treatment to young children with malarial fever, the National Malaria Control Program in 2004 teamed with the three NGOs to launch a pilot program for community-based distribution of ant malarial medication in five districts.

The initiative aims to educate parents to identify danger signs associated with malarial fever and treat the illness with help from a nearby community drug distributor within hours of onset, when the chances of saving a child’s life are at their highest.

For more complicated cases, parents are advised to seek help at a health center. With support from the government of Belgium, the National Malaria Control Program last fall purchased about 450,000 blister packs of malaria drugs to treat children under age five. Local distribution began in November 2004, with the packs offered at very low cost (10 cents) or on credit.

While the government provides program oversight, the NGOs and their local partners implement and monitor the drug distribution efforts. Community health workers, chosen by communities and trained by health districts and their NGO partners, are responsible for distributing the drugs.