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Combatting Malaria & Dengue
Launched in December 2015, EMBED, supported by Godrej Consumer Products Limited's CSR programme, combats malaria and dengue through a comprehensive strategy of education, communication, and healthcare provider training.
About
EMBED
Overview
Launched in December 2015, the Elimination of Mosquito-Borne Endemic Diseases (EMBED) is supported by Godrej Consumer Products Limited through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. It aims to address the spread of malaria and dengue by employing a multifaceted approach that includes Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), Behaviour Change Communication (BCC), and training for healthcare providers.
Strategic Implementation Across Diverse Regions
In collaboration with state health departments across four states, EMBED targets both urban and rural areas. In urban settings, the focus is on densely populated districts and cities, particularly slums susceptible to dengue outbreaks.
Activities include door-to-door awareness campaigns, larval surveys, and health education initiatives designed to promote disease prevention and emphasise the importance of seeking medical care promptly.
In rural regions, EMBED targets villages at higher risk of malaria. It aims to educate the communities on disease transmission and preventive measures, advocating for the removal of mosquito breeding sites. Here, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers play a crucial role in providing education, facilitating timely diagnosis, and coordinating treatment referrals.
Capacity Building and Community Empowerment
EMBED utilises Behaviour Change Communication Facilitators (BCCFs) and Youth Volunteers in high-risk areas to deliver essential health education directly to households. They focus on promoting sanitary practices, the use of mosquito nets and repellents, and the management of environmental factors that support mosquito breeding.
ASHA workers are instrumental in ensuring that communities are well-informed and connected to healthcare services. This strategy not only addresses immediate health concerns but also empowers communities to sustain these efforts over the long term.
Sustainable and Integrated Disease Prevention
By integrating educational programmes with community involvement and enhancements to the healthcare system, EMBED ensures that interventions are sustainable. Strengthening local capacities and healthcare infrastructure guarantees the longevity and effectiveness of these efforts.
Collaborative efforts with various sectors, including health, education, municipal corporations, and private healthcare facilities, form a robust foundation for the initiative, broadening its impact and scope.
Through strategic partnerships and community-driven approaches, EMBED aims to significantly reduce the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases, thereby improving public health across multiple states and serving as a benchmark for similar initiatives elsewhere.
Programme Approach and Implementation
The EMBED programme collaborates with government bodies and local community stakeholders, focusing on behaviour change and education campaigns to prevent vector-borne diseases. The programme develops and distributes a malaria treatment app and conducts community training sessions led by ASHA workers. These initiatives aim to provide local populations with the knowledge and tools needed for disease prevention.
The programme also works in coordination with local health departments to conduct fumigation drives, aimed at reducing mosquito populations in crucial areas. This coordination helps manage mosquito populations effectively, reducing the likelihood of disease transmission and protecting community health.
Through these strategies, the EMBED programme supports community efforts to manage and reduce the risks of vector-borne diseases. This approach helps improve public health outcomes and enhances the quality of life for communities affected by these diseases.
Outcomes and Expansion Strategy
The EMBED programme engages with various levels of governance and community, achieving a reduction in malaria incidence and planning to extend its efforts to combat dengue and other diseases.
The success of the programme is expanding to additional regions, adopting a model that combines community involvement with technological and infrastructural support.
This method helps maintain health improvements and supports the national objective of eliminating malaria by 2030, while also enhancing economic and social development.