Research Theme 1: Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholder Engagement and Implementation Plans

Stakeholder engagement activities will be conducted in Uganda, Malawi, and two other African countries. Uganda and Malawi are in the initial stages of PDMC (Presumptive Diagnosis and Management of Malaria in Children) implementation, with policy discussions and recommendations underway. Malawi’s NMCP (National Malaria Control Programme) has recommended the policy, which is awaiting approval from the MOH Senior Management Committee. In Uganda, initial agreements and plans for PDMC implementation are in place, and existing mechanisms for stakeholder engagement will be built upon to facilitate the process in both countries.

Proposed Engagement Levels

The engagement strategy will operate on four levels: the National Malaria Control Programme, County/District Health Office and Malaria Control leads, selected facility leads and implementing health workers (including professional bodies), and community level engagement (including civil society organizations and NGOs). Broader engagement with sub-Saharan African countries and at the global level will be addressed through dissemination, communication, and exploitation strategies.

Detailed Engagement Activities

At the national level, collaboration with NMCPs will raise awareness of PDMC, discuss drug distribution mechanisms, and facilitate national stakeholder meetings to present evidence and seek collaborations. At the district/county level, periodic meetings with district/county health officers and malaria control leads will review PDMC implementation status and make necessary adjustments. For health workers, engagement with professional bodies will discuss policy implementation, capacity-building needs, and development of guidelines and job aids. At the community level, media will be utilised for engagement, working with advisory boards to co-design research and gather views on study design and implementation plans.