Description
Introduction
Bonny Island is a semi-urban community, in Rivers State Nigeria and host community to Nigeria LNG, a six-train natural liquefication gas plant. The Island is bordered by the Atlantic on the south end and is approximately 40 kilometers from Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. The northern end of the Island, is surrounded by swampy saltwater body and there are eight smaller islands, also inhabited by people.
Nigeria LNG LTD (NLNG) as part of its corporate social responsibility is partnering with the indigenous people to eliminate malaria from the Island.
The objective of this is to demonstrate the value of indigenous people in reaching every household with treated bed nets for malaria prevention.
Methodology
At the commencement of the NLNG-funded malaria elimination project, an operational management committee (OMC) was setup in the community as vehicle to engender participation. This committee has membership from key stakeholder groups in the community, including the traditional leadership. The capacity of the members of this group was continuously developed, using the community action model as framework, to enable them to participate actively in all project activities including operational decisions.
In March 2022, the members of OMC were trained and worked with PMI and NLNG teams to distribute bed nets in Bonny Island. They were trained in logistics management, household enumeration, net distribution and demand generation. The net distribution was done by the community health team and monitored by the members of this committee.
However, there are eight satellite islands with 107 remote villages surrounding Bonny Island. In January 2023, the NLNG team organized refresher training for the OMC, local government health team and community health workers. The OMC and health team went to the remote villages and trained indigenous people on household enumeration and community mobilization in preparation for treated net distribution in the satellite islands.
Results
The end process monitoring results from both net distribution activities showed identical achievements.
End Process Assessment for Bonny Island and the Satellite Islands
Variables Phase 1 – March 2022 Phase 2 – January 2023
Missed households 2.67% 2%
ITN redemption 99.15% 98%
Utilization in <5 41.18% 65%
Utilization - pregnant women 21.43% 79%
Town announcement 61.25% 96%
Conclusion
Optimal community participation will yield capacity development and empower communities to deliver disease program interventions to the last mile and achieve control as well as elimination.
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