Malaria control in humanitarian emergencies: An interagency field handbook, 2nd Edition

This second edition represents a thorough updating and revision of the first edition. The structure remains similar, but includes an additional chapter on humanitarian coordination. All chapters have been revised to reflect changes in best practices, improvements in technologies, availability of new tools, and changes in WHO recommendations. The interagency handbook was developed to set out effective malaria control responses in humanitarian emergencies, particularly during the acute phase when reliance on international humanitarian assistance is greatest. It provides policy-makers, planners, and field coordinators with practical advice on designing and implementing measures to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in both man-made and natural disasters. Such measures must address the needs of all affected population groups and accommodate changing needs as an acute emergency evolves into either recovery or chronic emergency phase. The handbook is organized as follows: Chapter 1: Introduction introduces complex humanitarian emergencies and malaria control. Chapter 2: Coordination describes essential coordination, advocacy and resource mobilization. Chapter 3: Assessment and operational planning describes how to assess malaria burden in an emergency, identify those most at risk, and use the information collected to design an effective response. Chapter 4: Surveillance discusses establishment of disease surveillance systems to monitor the malaria situation. Chapter 5: Outbreaks describes how to prepare for and respond to a sudden increase in malaria cases. Chapter 6: Case management describes methods of diagnosis, treatment, and patient care in humanitarian emergencies. Chapter 7: Prevention describes approaches and tools for vector control and personal malaria protection during emergencies. Chapter 8: Community participation discusses how to mobilize affected communities to improve malaria control interventions. MALARIA CONTROL IN HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES viii Chapter 9: Operational research and associated routine monitoring discusses conducting research to improve the effectiveness of prevention and treatment in humanitarian emergencies. A glossary is provided at the beginning of the handbook. Suggestions for further reading are included at the end of several chapters. Ideal, or gold standard, approaches to malaria control are not always feasible in humanitarian emergencies. Interventions must be adapted to the realities of each emergency. Using this handbook should help humanitarian workers implement effective and concerted responses to malaria problems. As new information becomes available, updates to this handbook will be published. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be sent to WHO/Global Malaria Programme (infogmp@who.int).