Guidelines on the Use of Insecticide - Treated Mosquito Nets for the Prevention and Control of Malaria in Africa (WHO - MAL - WHO - AFRO - WHO, 1997, 88 p.) 2. Purpose, structure and the potential users of the Guidelines Purpose Structure Potential users

Guidelines on the Use of Insecticide - Treated Mosquito Nets for the Prevention and Control of Malaria in Africa (WHO - MAL - WHO - AFRO - WHO, 1997, 88 p.)

2. Purpose, structure and the potential users of the Guidelines

Purpose

These guidelines cover the technical, operational/managerial, policy and political aspects of large-scale ITMN implementation and are intended:

i) to provide preliminary guidance for the large-scale implementation of ITMNs within the framework of the Global Malaria Control Strategy;

ii) to serve as a basis for the development of county-specific handbooks adapted to national/local needs; and

iii) to be used to develop training materials on specific aspects of ITMN programme implementation.

These guidelines will be field evaluated and modified, based on practical experience gained in their implementation and the research findings. The contents of this draft document are thus far from prescriptive. As the potential usefulness of other insecticide-treated materials such as curtains and hammocks is not yet fully established, the focus here is on insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITMN). Relevant aspects may however be extrapolated for the use of other materials.

Structure

To help the users, the guidelines include:

· A description of the activities to be carried out, and relevant information;

· A matrix for a quick reference to the expected activities, probable mechanisms, support needs and conditions to be met for sustainable implementation;

· Examples and models for carrying out technical assessments; and

· Models of institutional/collaborative frameworks.

Potential users

The guidelines are intended for use by the implementers, promoters and supporters (i.e. all partners) of ITMN programmes, and who are expected to be:

· Relevant national malaria control programme personnel;

· National level macro-economic policy and decision-makers concerned with funding malaria control and ITMN activities, development or approval of ITMN related policies and legislation on insecticide registration and importation, tax and import duty exemptions;

· Government sectors within and outside the health system, the private sector, NGOs, and other community organizations involved, or in a position to contribute to ITMN implementation;

· Those responsible for, or in a position to influence health system reform processes and policies; and

· Personnel of relevant international and bilateral agencies, and other potential donors.