Neftaly Malaria Program – Namibia
Project Duration: 01 January 2005 – 30 June 2013
Project Title: Scaling Up Malaria Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Toward Elimination in Namibia

Background

Malaria has historically posed a significant public health challenge in northern Namibia, particularly in regions bordering Angola and Zambia. Seasonal transmission patterns, limited access to healthcare in remote communities, and population movement across porous borders contributed to periodic outbreaks and persistent morbidity. In the early 2000s, Namibia was classified as a high-burden malaria country.

In support of the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Neftaly implemented a comprehensive, multi-phase malaria program from 2005 to 2013. The program focused on reducing malaria-related illness and death, strengthening local health systems, and laying the groundwork for long-term malaria elimination.

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Program Objectives

• Reduce malaria transmission and mortality through expanded prevention and early treatment
• Improve diagnostic accuracy and access to antimalarial treatment, especially in remote and high-burden areas
• Build capacity of health workers and health systems to sustain malaria control interventions
• Support Namibia’s transition from malaria control to pre-elimination in targeted districts

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Core Interventions

1. Vector Control and Prevention

• Distributed long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to households in endemic regions, prioritizing children under five and pregnant women
• Conducted indoor residual spraying (IRS) annually in high-transmission districts
• Trained and equipped district-level malaria teams to implement community-level vector control activities
• Promoted behavior change communication (BCC) campaigns to encourage consistent use of mosquito nets and personal protection

2. Improved Diagnosis and Treatment

• Expanded access to rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for timely malaria confirmation at primary healthcare level
• Strengthened supply chains to ensure availability of effective artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)
• Supported integrated community case management (iCCM) for malaria, especially in hard-to-reach communities
• Introduced malaria treatment protocols and job aids to improve quality of care in public facilities

3. Health Worker Training and Capacity Building

• Trained over 2,000 healthcare providers and community health workers in malaria case management and surveillance
• Strengthened district-level supervision, data collection, and reporting mechanisms
• Developed and distributed standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidelines, and job aids for malaria response

4. Surveillance and Monitoring

• Supported the rollout of malaria early warning systems and electronic reporting tools
• Conducted routine health facility and household surveys to track intervention coverage and disease burden
• Used surveillance data to guide targeted interventions and resource allocation

5. Cross-Border Collaboration

• Partnered with Angola through cross-border initiatives to coordinate vector control and surveillance
• Supported malaria screening and treatment at key border entry points and migration corridors
• Participated in the Elimination 8 (E8) regional malaria elimination initiative

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Key Achievements (2005–2013)

• Malaria incidence reduced by more than 80% in supported districts
• Malaria mortality decreased to near zero in most intervention areas
• Over 1 million LLINs distributed to vulnerable households
• IRS coverage exceeded 90% annually in target districts
• Strengthened capacity of over 100 health facilities and dozens of community outreach posts
• Namibia made significant progress toward malaria pre-elimination status in several northern regions

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Conclusion

Neftaly’s malaria program in Namibia played a critical role in transforming the country’s malaria response from control to near-elimination. Through strong partnerships, targeted investments, and local leadership, the program dramatically reduced the malaria burden and helped set a foundation for long-term sustainability and success.