PILOT PROJECT
FOR CURING
LEPROSY
PROJECT BACKGROUND
RTM has been carrying out community health projects in Southeast Madagascar for over 15 years. The intervention methodology was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health thanks to the support of donors such as the European Union, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and numerous private donors. All the initiatives were carried out in partnership with local organisations.
Over the years, over 1,000 community agents have been trained – Malagasy volunteers who play an important role in liaising with general practitioners in their respective communities. Many patients have been successfully treated for very different pathologies: malaria, tuberculosis, lymphatic filariasis, intestinal parasites, leprosy, mental disorders.
Following the resurgence of leprosy in the country, in 2017 RTM decided to carry out a pilot project using the active screening methodology for the early detection of infection.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- leprosy patients: 100
- relatives of patients: 400
- communities of belonging: 150.000
L'ORIGINE DEL PROGETTO
RTM has been carrying out community health projects in Southeast Madagascar for over 15 years. The intervention methodology was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health thanks to the support of donors such as the European Union, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and numerous private donors. All the initiatives were carried out in partnership with local organisations.
Over the years, over 1,000 community agents have been trained – Malagasy volunteers who play an important role in liaising with general practitioners in their respective communities. Many patients have been successfully treated for very different pathologies: malaria, tuberculosis, lymphatic filariasis, intestinal parasites, leprosy, mental disorders.
Following the resurgence of leprosy in the country, in 2017 RTM decided to carry out a pilot project using the active screening methodology for the early detection of infection.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- leprosy patients: 100
- relatives of patients: 400
- communities of belonging: 150.000
Context
Madagascar is among the 13 countries in which leprosy is endemic and more than 1,000 cases are still identified per year, particularly in the Vatovavy-Fitovinany region. Furthermore, the disability rate among the new cases remains high, indicating a serious delay in diagnosis.
The main causes of this situation include:
- the turnover of health personnel and the difficulty in consolidating the skills for diagnosing the disease – the number of medical and paramedical personnel trained and able to recognise and treat the disease is insufficient;
- the social stigma that still accompanies leprosy, whereby patients delay consulting a doctor, thus also delaying the diagnosis, with all the consequences that this entails on their health and that of family members.
GOAL
The project decreases the incidence of leprosy through early diagnosis and the reduction of transmission. It also improves the quality of life and the degree of social, educational, and professional inclusion of patients.
The methodology is based on the good practices developed and is community-based, but adopts an experimental, active approach, defined in collaboration with the public healthcare system.
GOAL
The project decreases the incidence of leprosy through early diagnosis and the reduction of transmission. It also improves the quality of life and the degree of social, educational, and professional inclusion of patients.
The methodology is based on the good practices developed and is community-based, but adopts an experimental, active approach, defined in collaboration with the public healthcare system.
ACTIVITIES
The intervention is based on three main, connected activities.
- Early diagnosis
Training for community agents and workers of the Basic Health Centres
Active screening sessions in target municipalities covered by the intervention
- Care of identified cases
Immediate and free treatment, training for the patient and the family in order to manage the disease independently, periodic checks on the course and effectiveness of the treatment
- Awareness-raising on prevention, elimination of discrimination, and social acceptance of patients by the population
Training of journalists and communication operators for the dissemination of messages on local media; implementation of activities in target municipalities by the RTM team and community agents
PARTNERS
DONORS
PHOTOS E VIDEO
NEWS
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The english version is on-line.
Discover our projects and enjoy the reading!!
