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Climate-Informed Malaria Response Model, Nanyumbu Tanzania

Location: MTWARA, NANYUMBU, TANZANIA
Donor: Grand challenges Canada
Beneficiaries: 10000
Start Date: 2027-01-04
End Date: 2028-06-30

Climate-Informed Malaria Response Model, Nanyumbu, Tanzania: A community-based project designed to reduce malaria transmission and improve early detection and response by integrating climate information, community health surveillance, malaria prevention, early diagnosis, and nutrition screening. The project targets high-risk populations, particularly children under five and pregnant women, through trained Community Health Workers (CHWs), SMS/USSD climate-informed alerts, malaria rapid diagnostic testing, promotion of insecticide-treated net use, IPTp support, timely referral, and integrated nutrition screening. The model strengthens collaboration between communities, health facilities, and district health authorities to enable early, data-driven action before and during periods of increased malaria risk.

Objectives

Reduced malaria incidence: 40% reduction in confirmed malaria cases among children under five and pregnant women in intervention villages compared to baseline (measured through CHW and health facility data) Improved ITN use: ≥80% of households with children under five and pregnant women consistently using insecticide-treated nets (measured through household surveys) Increased IPTp coverage: ≥80% of pregnant women completing ≥3 doses of intermittent preventive treatment (measured through CHW records and ANC data) Improved care-seeking behavior: ≥80% of caregivers seeking care within 24 hours of fever onset (measured through household surveys) Functional climate-informed early warning system: SMS/USSD system operational with ≥95% alert delivery rate, demonstrating successful integration of climate and health data for timely response (measured through system logs) Reduced malnutrition: 20% reduction in malnutrition among children under five through integrated screening and referral (measured through MUAC screening data)

Achievements

Reduced malaria burden: Achieved a 40% reduction in confirmed malaria cases among children under five and pregnant women in intervention villages compared with baseline. Improved ITN utilization: Increased consistent use of insecticide-treated nets to ≥80% of households with children under five and pregnant women. Improved IPTp coverage: Increased the proportion of pregnant women completing at least three doses of IPTp to ≥80% through strengthened ANC and community follow-up. Improved early care-seeking: ≥80% of caregivers reported seeking appropriate care within 24 hours of fever onset, reducing delays in malaria diagnosis and treatment. Operational climate-informed early warning system: Established a functional SMS/USSD climate-health early warning system with ≥95% alert delivery, enabling communities and health teams to respond earlier to increased malaria risk. Reduced malnutrition: Achieved a 20% reduction in malnutrition among children under five through routine MUAC screening, nutrition counselling, and referral of identified cases. Strengthened community health capacity: Trained and supported CHWs to conduct malaria surveillance, mRDT screening, health education, nutrition screening, referral, and community-level follow-up. Strengthened climate-health decision-making: Improved the capacity of district and community health teams to use climate and health data to anticipate malaria risks and plan timely preventive and response interventions.