U Chit Shwe has seen the number of malaria cases significantly reduce over his 10 years of malaria volunteer work. He is an integrated community malaria volunteer (ICMV) in charge of Gyo Chuang village in Taikkyi Township, Yangon Region.
He previously worked in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township, Tanintharyi Region, which is one of the malaria endemic areas. His wife is a midwife and U Chit Shwe has followed her to every health post to help her, and his interest in volunteer work stemmed from that.
U Chit Shwe shared his experience of 10 years back in Tanintharyi Region. “Back in 2007–2008, malaria was all too common but today we are gradually winning our battle against it. People in malaria endemic areas now have better quality of life as they are free from malaria.”
In those days, malaria microscopy was the mainstay of diagnosis, though it required special equipment and skilled microscopists. These conditions often could not be met at the peripheral health posts where U Chit Shwe used to work as a malaria volunteer. “People have poor health knowledge and, due to late referral, some very ill patients may have died on the way to the health centres where malaria microscopy was available.”
The main treatment at that time was quinine, notorious for its side effects like loss of appetite and dizziness. It took one to two months for patients to recover and get back to work.
But today, thankfully, a new chapter has opened in malaria control: RAI2E trained ICMVs and established malaria posts to ensure malaria service coverage for once vulnerable rural communities. They provide long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), malaria diagnosis with rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)—all free of charge, supported by the Global Fund.
Where health centres are far and few between, ICMVs like U Chit Shwe are frontline malaria service providers.
Nowadays, mobile phones supplied by VBDC have enabled more efficient case reporting. Malaria testing with RDT can be performed within 15 minutes and patients receive directly observed treatment if they test positive.
“I have seen my patients recover quickly after treatment with ACT. They can resume their normal life and work within a few days after treatment. Consequently, we are trusted in our communities because the services we provide save lives and create new opportunities,” explains U Chit Shwe, thankful for the Global Fund’s life-saving malaria support to communities in need in Myanmar.
Today, the number of cases has been significantly reduced, even among high risk groups like migrant woodcutters and miners returning from logging camps and gold mines.
“In my village, everyone receives a malaria blood test using RDT immediately when they return from woodcutting or gold mining. Even among the woodcutters, it is rare to find a malaria case nowadays. Sometimes, I follow them to the forests where they work. I give them a directly observed malaria treatment with ACT if they tested positive. In that way, I make sure that the malaria parasite has no chance to survive, thus breaking the chain of transmission.”
U Chit Shwe is pleased to see the results of his 10-year malaria control efforts finally bearing fruits—a successful malaria response achieved through collaboration with local and regional malaria partners led by the National Malaria Control Programme.
“As long as I am healthy, fit and can work, I will contribute my service as an ICMV for the better health of my community. This is the way I am and it is my personal desire to help people in my community. It does not matter whether I get any reward, incentive or benefit.”
