Background

The Malawi Ministry of Health developed the country’s first neglected tropical diseases (NTD) scorecard tool for accountability and action in April 2019.

A few months later, the country’s 3 scorecard tools (malaria, RMNCAH and NTD scorecards) were decentralised with support from partners including ALMA and UNICEF. During this process, NTD focal points from 13 districts were trained on using the scorecard to track progress and stimulate action.

In June 2021, following major achievements in the country, including the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in February 2020 (PDF) and progress on the development of the new NTD master plan for 2021 to 2025, Malawi decided to review the NTD scorecard indicators and align the scorecard with the current priorities.

How it works

Malawi’s NTD control and elimination scorecard tracks progress of indicators that reflect the priorities and objectives outlined in the Malawi’s NTD national master plan including:

• programme management
• monitoring and evaluation
• surveillance
• mass drug administration treatment coverage
• case management

The diseases tracked include:

• leprosy
• human African trypanosomiasis
• schistosomiasis
• soil transmitted helminthiasis
• lymphatic filariasis
• onchocerciasis
• trachoma

The scorecard is produced on a semi-annual basis based on the availability of the key NTD data, as most of the key NTD interventions are conducted twice a year. Data populated into the scorecard is from different NTD programme reports including national and district registers and reports.

Impact

The NTD scorecard in Malawi has increased the country ownership and accountability for results. It has contributed to the increased coordination between the different NTD programmes and it has been used to identify programme gaps and propose solutions. The scorecard analysis led to actions such as ordering the adequate quantity of deworming medicines based on the targeted population, and the country is working to ensure that all targeted populations for mass drug administration (MDA) are reached.

In addition, the scorecard has guided the schistosomiasis programme to maintain community-based MDA in some regions of the country, when the programme was initially considering only school-based MDAs. It has also assisted in the targeting of community-based interventions. The scorecard will be used during the annual NTD partners’ advocacy meeting to mobilize resources.

Key success factors

• publicly shared
• decentralised to 13 UNICEF supported districts