3. Strengthening Health Systems

In Kilifi district, Kenya, an education program piloted by the Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research Programme worked with district health managers to train and inform rural drug retailers and communities. Its effect was evaluated by means of annual household surveys of drug use and shop surveys in an early and a late implementation area. The program showed major improvements in drug-selling practices. Between 1998 and 1999, the proportion of antimalarial drug users obtaining an adequate dose rose from 8 to 33 percent, and by 2001, with a national change to sulfadoxine pyrimethamine, to 64 percent. The proportion of those with malarial fevers who received an adequate dose of a recommended antimalarial drug within 24 hours rose from 1 to 28 percent by 2001.

Source: Marsh and others 2004.