Developing Research Partnerships to Bring Change : Experiences from REACH Trust Malawi

Drawing on the experiences of REACH Trust; this paper highlights practical lessons of using research processes and outcomes to promote equity in health policy and practice. The REACH Trust is first introduced. Case studies are then used to highlight how REACH Trust has worked in a participatory manner with key stakeholders at community; national and international levels. In addition to participatory working there are a number of cross-cutting themes that facilitate the uptake of research findings which is discussed in turn: (1) multi-disciplinary and multi-method approaches (2) advocating research findings at strategic forums; and (3) the use of strategic frames. In the conclusion it is argued that research has a critical role to play in responding to the urgent need for the Malawian health sector to develop and act on evidence-based practice in a more gender equitable and pro-poor manner

Geographical Information Systems in TB control

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is becoming a useful tool in disease control by health planners. However little is known about its potential in tuberculosis (TB) control. In 2000 the National TB Programme (NTP) in Malawi assessed its usefulness. Routinely collected case-finding data from the 3 previous years (1997 to 1999) were entered into a system containing a digital map of Malawi. District performance was mapped. We concluded that GIS may be complementary in monitoring TB programme performance; and may be useful for target setting; advocacy; and research. World Health Organisation (WHO) now provides free GIS software (Health Mapper) and training. However; the use of GIS in TB control still needs further piloting and expansion without constraining the locally available resources or disrupting the present TB data management system

Factors contributing to a successful tuberculosis control programme in Malawi

A discription of the revised National Tuberculosis Programme [NTP] and the reasons for the continued improvement from year to year despite the relatively small number of core tuberculosis personnel. These factors include: political stability; pragmatic governmental policies; self-sufficiency in food; standardized tuberculosis control strategies; constant staff training and supervision; and community participation

Malawi national TB programme: report on evaluation of TB treatment; 1st quarter; April; 1989

The results of 558 patients enrolled by the National Tuberculosis Programme [NTP] on Short Course Chemotherapy under routine conditions were satisfactory with 82 percent reporting negative at the end