SPANIMM Project
Strengthening Patent Medicine Vendors' Associations in Nigeria for Improved Malaria Management (SPANIMM) Project, an operational research project being conducted in partnership with Future Health Systems Research Group at the University of Ibadan and Niger Delta University, seeks to improve the management of malaria in Nigeria's private sector.
In Nigeria, malaria is the leading cause of death. When faced with symptoms of malaria, more than half of Nigerians visit chemists and patent medicine vendors (PMV) for treatment. Due to their widespread presence, particularly in rural areas, PMV represent a valuable human resource for malaria case management in Nigeria. However, recent studies have shown that that the malaria treatment provided by most PMV, who often have only a secondary school education and no clinical background, is poor.
SPANIMM will pilot and evaluate an innovative, self-sustaining intervention that improves PMV malaria management in rural areas. Many PMV are members of their local PMV associations, which have unique influence among the PMV population and could be powerful partners in improving malaria treatment practices among this population. Yet little is known about the PMV associations' operations and their interest in taking on an enhanced role in monitoring and strengthening their members' capabilities.
Formative research is being conducted in four local government areas (LGA) in Oyo and Bayelsa states. It will determine rural PMV knowledge and practices of malaria management and assess rural LGA PMV Associations' capacity, operations, and interest in improving their members' malaria management. This research will be completed in October 2013 and will inform the development of an intervention, or a set of interventions, that are likely to result in sustainable improvement in PMV malaria management. Implementation of the intervention is expected to begin in late 2013.
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