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MBARARA, Uganda — A new chapter in PSI malaria prevention strategy has begun with the launch of the Unite to Fight Malaria insecticide-treated net (ITN) voucher pilot project here. The three-month pilot project marks a critical test for an innovative experiment in malaria prevention. Unite to Fight Malaria will run through October 15 in the two Ugandan districts of Mbarara and Mbale. At a total of 27 sites, selected public health centers (HCs) will issue special ITN vouchers to pregnant women and caretakers of children under five years. Vouchers valued at about U.S. $2.50 are good towards the purchase of a commercially available ITN. During the pilot project, PSI will manage the distribution of vouchers to HCs, and ITNs to nearby sales outlets. The intended benefits of the scheme are to deliver a targeted subsidy vis-à-vis a discount voucher while supporting private sector distributors. "Unite to Fight Malaria is a unique partnership involving private sector distributors, public health centers and the management unit, being carried out by PSI," said PSI Associate Program Manager Brian Wagner. "With the Global Fund set to fund similar projects, the international community is watching our model and the results very closely." The three-month project anticipates distributing 50,000 vouchers in the two districts with a 50% redemption rate, or ITN sales of about 25,000. The relevance of voucher schemes in developing countries is unknown. However, during the past year, the Ugandan Ministry of Health's Malaria Control Programme embraced the targeted subsidy concept. The rapidly developing Ugandan ITN market, which has seen the entry of five commercial distributors into the market over the past two years, is the focus of long-term sustainability for the supply of ITNs. While only a few examples of such voucher interventions have been carried out in the malaria context, Unite to Fight Malaria is the first pilot whereby the experience will shape an imminent national project. "The primary objective of the pilot is to test key mechanisms related to the voucher, the target group, health centers and sales outlets," stated Social Marketing Director Karen Bulsara. For PSI, managing a voucher scheme that supports commercial ITN brands marks a shift away from its usual approach to social marketing, but one that typifies the evolving malaria sector. Global leadership and commitment to malaria prevention requires PSI to remain flexible. Ultimately, the voucher model is an experiment to see if both private sector growth and health impact can be achieved efficiently. — Brian Wagner, associate program manager for West and Central Africa,
PSI/Washington
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