A Qualitative Assessment of a Malaria Elimination Project in the Tribal District of Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

The Asia Pacific has committed to the regional goal of malaria elimination by 2030. In the year 2021, India constituted 10% of the total malaria burden in the region, with more than 2/3rd malaria cases concentrated in tribal pockets. In 2017, a public-privatepartnership known as the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project was initiated in the tribal district of Mandla in central India to demonstrate malaria elimination and share lessons withthe rest of the country and the region. The present study focused on understanding the complex stakeholder dynamics including the community of Mandla, local healthcare workers, programme managers, and technical experts. The study has revealed interesting findings related to the effect of vertical health programmes on existing health systems; gaps, challenges, and opportunities for core interventions, and the importance of community participation towards making malaria elimination a reality by 2030.