Village malaria workers for the community-based management of vivax malaria
Issued Date
2023-02-01
Resource Type
eISSN
27723682
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85150779480
Journal Title
The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia
Volume
9
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia Vol.9 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Adhikari B., Tripura R., Peto T.J., Callery J.J., von Seidlein L., Dysoley L., Dondorp A.M. Village malaria workers for the community-based management of vivax malaria. The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia Vol.9 (2023). doi:10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100128 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82401
Title
Village malaria workers for the community-based management of vivax malaria
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
In Cambodia, malaria cases are on a trajectory towards the goal of malaria elimination by 2025. Vivax malaria is difficult to eliminate because of hypnozoites that can cause relapse. Primaquine, an 8-aminoquinoline, clears hypnozoites but requires testing for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Routine primaquine treatment of vivax malaria has recently been implemented in Cambodia in which Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) diagnose vivax malaria by rapid diagnostic test and refer patients to health centres for G6PD testing and further treatment. Patients are referred back to the VMWs for monitoring adverse symptoms and treatment adherence. This article explores how VMWs’ roles might be optimized for the community-based management of vivax malaria. With sufficient training and supervision, the role of VMWs might be expanded to include G6PD testing, making referral to the health centre superfluous. Community-based management of vivax malaria could increase the coverage of radical cure and accelerate vivax malaria elimination.