The Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) was undertaken in 1233 villages of district Mandla, in central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. This project is a Public-Private-Partnership between the Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Government of the State of Madhya Pradesh, and the Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (a not-for-profit entity created by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited for conducting public health programmes).
The MEDP employs field-tested and proven principles and strategies for malaria elimination with context specific modifications. The case management aspect of elimination is based on the T4 strategy (tracking fever cases by active surveillance), testing by national programme-approved RDTs, treating RDT-positive individuals following national guidelines using ACT and other approved anti-malarials, and testing the efficacy of treatment. The vector control strategy involves provision of LLIN, IRS and minor engineering. The project has developed a mobile surveillance tool that captures malaria testing and treatment data as well as attendance of staff and supply chain requirements of the project. Information, Education and Communication tools were developed and deployed, incorporating messages from the field staff and communities. The staff deployed for the project is from local communities, trained before and during the project to monitor needs assessment and gaps in knowledge and learnings.
This Thematic Series in Malaria Journal presents various components of the project, including inter-sectoral coordination, mobile surveillance tools, behaviour change communication, capacity building, entomology, disease surveillance and case management, mass screenings and treatment, training and assessment.