Health indicators in Nigeria are some of the worst in the world and malaria is a key factor.
In 2008 malaria accounted for 60% of outpatient visits and 30% of deaths in children under five.
Malaria was a major cause of absenteeism and low productivity.
Inadequate funding and weak health systems limited the roll-out of prevention and treatment measures.
Modest anti-malaria initiatives being implemented were not optimised due to lack of appropriate health seeking behaviour among the Nigerian population.
Solution
Montrose was contracted to oversee the commercial sector component of the Support to National Malaria programme (SuNMaP), and apply a Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach.
Interventions included:
Development of commercial sector engagement strategies to develop markets for long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN).
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs).
Training of ‘market support officers’ on practical application of M4P approaches.
Design of an access to finance initiative for LLIN importers and distributors.
Demand creation interventions for RDTs including a feasibility study on subsidies.
Impact
M4P targeted the removal of market bottlenecks and enhancement of market systems for antimalaria commodities.
A cumulative total of 2.2 million nets were sold through the commercial sector.
In 2014, the Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions survey found that:
Households with at least one LLIN increased from 8% to 53%.
Children under five years sleeping under LLINs increased from 6% to 25%.
In 2013, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey found that:
Children under five with fever treated with ACTs increased from 2.4% to 5.9%.
Under‐five mortality rate decreased from 157 per 1,000 to 128 per 1,000.
