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Report Calls for Better Malaria Data
Mozambique News Agency
2004-03-11

A new analysis into the quality of Mozambique malaria data has found that despite the fact that malaria is the principle cause of morbidity and mortality, much of the data is of poor quality. However, a good health information system (HIS) at district, provincial and national levels crucial for basing decision-making.

A new analysis into the quality of malaria data relating to Mozambique has found that, despite the fact that malaria is the  principle cause of morbidity and mortality, much of the data is of poor quality.

The analysis by Baltazar Chilundo, Johanne Sundby and Margunn Aanestad, published in Malaria Journal on 3 March, warns that  although increasing efforts are being made to combat malaria, there is little research into improving the data on which the  anti-malarial campaigns are based.

The Malaria Journal paper points out that malaria is by far the world's most important tropical parasitic disease, with up to  500 million clinical cases per year, of which over 86 percent are in Africa. It warns that every two minutes, three children  die of malaria, the majority of them in sub Saharan Africa.

Malaria also causes great economic strain on those countries worst hit by the disease. In 1997 up to two billion US dollars  was spent in Africa on the direct costs of malaria and on the indirect costs (such as lost productivity and income).

The scientists looked at data collected in southern Mozambique from August to September 2003, and found that primary data was  of poor quality. They also found that there was evidence of some data being invented, contributing to a false impression of  malaria incidence. The report also found that targets established under the national strategic plan for malaria cannot be  analysed through the existing systems.

The scientists conclude that there should be a standardised system for recording malaria and that a national database that  maps malaria by location should be set up.

The paper argues that health initiatives such as the Roll Back Malaria campaign require a robust surveillance system to  monitor and evaluate their impact. It also argues that a good health information system (HIS) at district, provincial and  national levels is fundamental for basing decision-making on reality, and to improve the management of intervention  programmes. It is also needed to make sure that resources are distributed most effectively and equitably in different areas.

As an example of the need for a good database, the paper points out that good data can be used to draw malaria density maps  which can be used to estimate where the greatest number of children under-five can be helped.

The paper points out that in Kenya a study showed that insecticide-treated bed net programmes were concentrated in areas  where NGO's had strong links rather than in areas where the risk from malaria was most severe.

The authors warn that the Mozambique study was carried out on a limited scale with few analytical tools, but point out that  it has been able to highlight poor routine health data. They have called for a much more comprehensive analysis across the  country. (Source: allAfrica.com http://allafrica.com/stories/200403090577.html 4 March 2004).

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