ASD - PAKISTAN

Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria Pakistan: operational materials and their contribution to malaria control.

The MCP Pakistan has taken a policy decision, and secured funding through the Global Fund for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to be used in the Basic Health Units (BHU). The use of RDTs under routine public health facilities is new in Pakistan. There is a need to study, develop, evaluate and disseminate operational materials in order to effectively implement RDTs. This is an opportune time for the COMDIS research team to assist the programme to develop operational guidelines and materials for implementing and monitoring RDTs in routine health services context. The proposed four month COMDIS development activity will be conducted by ASD with the CDC Punjab and NCIHD. It will study and develop a set of RDT materials, which will then be implemented and monitored through Global Fund inputs in at least four districts of Pakistan. These materials will also be made available to other fifteen districts supported by the Global Fund, and if approved, then elsewhere in Pakistan. The overall development, implementation and monitoring exercise, will help to assess the potential for district-wide diagnosis of malaria, through consolidation of existing microscopy smear results from RHCs and hospitals with the RDT at BHU data. This will inform the programme on the geographical distribution of malaria, and potentially help to target ACTs use and control interventions in Pakistan.