Action Family Foundation Malaria Project

The Action Family Foundation Malaria Project was designed for key public, private, and civil society actors. The project centred around three key objectives:

• persuade 10 pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement a pilot project to deliver RBM commodities via civil society organisations (CSOs) to communities within 6 months;
• persuade 10 commercial distributors of malaria prevention materials (insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and chemicals) to set prices favourable of CSOs to enable them to deliver RBM commodities to communities within 5 months; and
• build the capacity of 30 partner CSOs in effective malaria control, advocacy, and service delivery in their host communities within 4 months.

AFF began the project by holding sessions to brief stakeholders across the objective areas. This included a meeting with the secretariat of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) in March 2008, and individual meetings with PMG-MAN members to present the case for implementing the suggested pilot project. According to AFF, the meetings built relationships and provided further contacts for follow up, resulting in 5 companies taking part in the initiative to supply malaria related pharmaceutical supplies to CSOs.

Regarding the second key project objective, AFF worked with 5 RBM product merchants and various commercial distributors linking them with CSOs. For example, AFF explains that Patem Global Nig Ltd began to supply long lasting insecticidal treated nets (LLINs) to Life Link Organization and Health Matter Inc, based on AFF introductions.

In terms of capacity building, AFF held meetings with the Human Rights Information Network (HURINET), the Malaria Summit Group (MSG), and other networks to inform them about the need for malaria advocacy. These links led to joint activities around World Malaria Day 2009, as well the opportunity for AFF to participate at the Lagos RBM Partners Forum and to host the 3rd National Malaria Summit in November 2008. AFF also organised a 5-day malaria advocacy training session in May 2008 where 35 people representing 28 CSOs were trained (including university personnel, media, United Nations agency officials, legislators, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation).

Malaria

According to the Mobilising 4 Malaria website, malaria is responsible for 30% of under 5 child mortality and 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria. Over 60% of hospital visits are due to malaria. Annually, more than 50% of Nigeria's 140 million people suffer at least one episode of malaria. The malaria toll is highest amongst vulnerable groups; most notably under fives, pregnant women, and the elderly. The annual economic loss to the Nigerian economy due to malaria is in excess of one billion US dollars. Despite some advances in malaria control, a need for increased engagement with civil society organisations was identified.

AFF was established in 2000. The organisation focuses its activities on family health and healthcare safety, community development, and social justice. It works to strengthen the family as a strategic point of intervention to promote health, provide care, and prevent disease. AFF is experienced in community health promotion and HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention, as well as the care and support of those living with the disease including impact mitigation. AFF works in both difficult-to-access communities and volatile environments.

Mobilising for Malaria (M4M) is an advocacy network supported mainly by GlaxoSmithKline’s African Malaria Partnership and led by Malaria Consortium. Its first activities began in January 2005, with the programme running officially until May 2009 and then extended until May 2010. Through Malaria Advocacy Innovation Grants, M4M supported projects designed to boost advocacy efforts to improve Africa-to-Africa accountability for response to malaria, as well inspire African civil society organisations and media to become "leaders" in the fight against malaria. The Innovation Grants supported ideas and partnerships that worked to reach new audiences in creative ways and tackle difficult issues such as equity, transparency, and accountability in Africa.