In demonstration of our commitment to contribute in the improvement of public health, we at the Malaria Eradication and Safe Health Initiative of Nigeria (MESHI), have been deploying our members to assist in several health intervention programmes in the state, for instance, during the last Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) by the Anambra State Malaria Control Booster Project, members of the organization were trained and engaged as Spray operators, Store keepers and team leaders in various communities in Awka north and Awka South.
Also during immunization programmes such as Integrated Measles Campaign (IMC) and Oral polio vaccines, National immunization plus days (NIPDS) and Maternal Newborn Child Health Week (MNCHW), members from the organization worked as independent monitors and observers and our recommendations have been useful in improving the exercise in the state especially in enhancing compliance and handling bottle necks.
During the 2014 Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets( LLIN) replacement campaign in the State, members of the organisation were involved in the micro planning and data collection working as supervisors in Awka North and Aguata LGAs and also worked as supervisors and independent monitors during the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets ( LLIN).
In the recently concluded Meningitis A Africa Vaccination program (MenAfriVac), the organization was actively involved in the monitoring and supervision of the exercise in Anambra East LGA.
In the ongoing Impact assessment of malaria control interventions in the state by Anambra Malaria Control Booster Project (ANMCBP) and World Bank, consultants being Hanovia Medical Consultant Ltd, the organisation deployed some of its staff as Medical Assistants and Enumerators to participate in the exercise for data collection from Households, Communities, Primary Health Facilities and Primary Health Facility Workers as well as Community Directed Distributors (CDD) and Patent Medicine Vendors (PMVs). Reports of these exercises have been submitted to relevant authorities.
Also MESHI NIGERIA as partnered with Hanovia Medical Consultant Ltd and World Bank in the Follow-up and Baseline Study of the Nigerian SURE-P Maternal and Neonatal Child Health Initiative of Nigeria (MNCH), in a survey of midwives, mothers who has delivered not more than three months conducted in the 36 states of Nigeria. MESHI recognises the need for development of human capacity thus carried out a baseline survey in 2014 during the World Aids Day (Stigma Ends with You) to determine the rate of youths involvement in crime and prostitution in Awka City Anambra State which amounted to lack of job availability . This is thus driving MESHI to engage the services of professionals in different craft to create job opportunity for the disadvantaged youths.
The organization participates in Ward development meetings in communities where the projects are being implemented and the community leaders were encouraged to key into the projects and encourage the community members to become volunteer staff in order to ensure its sustenance and ownership as well as reduce the burden of the diseases in the community. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were also conducted among community members to assess their knowledge gap that may be contributing to the transmission and burden of Tuberculosis (TB), HIV and Malaria diseases.
As a member of the Association of Civil Societies in Malaria, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), the Organization participates in sensitization of pregnant women and nursing mothers on the benefits of good nutrition and immunization in communities.
The organization participates in Cluster meetings and Co-ordination meetings involving other NGOs to share knowledge and lessons learnt from different aspect of their activities for improvement in health intervention programmes in order to sustain a continuous reduction in the burden of these diseases.