A History of Malaria Eradication and Control Service/Program in Ethiopia (1959-1995)
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Date
2022-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study explores the history of malaria eradication and control service/program in Ethiopia
from 1959 to 1993. The period covers the years from the establishment of the program as a semi-
autonomous government entity to address the debilitating health and socio-economic impacts of
malaria on Ethiopian populations up to its final dissolution. As yet there is no in-depth historical
research that examines the biomedical and socio-economic experience of The Malaria
Eradication and Control Service/Program in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was designed to fill this
gap by thoroughly examining the complicated history of the malaria eradication and control
program from its inception until its demise in 1993. To achieve the central objective of the study,
I have used numerous primary and secondary sources. The primary sources include archives,
government reports and decrees, newsletters, magazines, guidelines and others. The secondary
sources include books, book chapters, articles, theses and senior essays. Moreover, the study
used oral information to crosscheck against the written sources and to answer some questions
that could not be addressed by the written sources. Data were collected through interviews
conducted mainly in Addis Ababa, Adama, Hawassa, and Dire Dawa. The study uses a
qualitative research method. Consequently, an attempt has been made to critically evaluate the
dynamic changes witnessed in the complicated historical development of the program with
regard to strategy, structure, health, and socio-economic burdens of the disease and the
biomedical and socio-economic response of the program during the period. It also examines the
plans set to accomplish the objectives of the program against what was actually accomplished on
the ground. Moreover, dynamic historical developments in which the program went through
associated with the endeavor to align the national program with newly introduced international
changes or reforms have been discussed. The major effects of regime change in shaping Malaria
Eradication and Control Service/Program have also been highlighted. Lastly, it has also
assessed reasons to program’s dawn graded working potential and its final dissolution. The
central thesis of this thesis is therefore that the history of the MECS/P had been a history of
battle between DDT and chloroquine armed anti-malaria workers and mosquito to address the
health and socio-economic burdens of malaria on the Ethiopian populations in the second half of
the 20th century. The study revealed that the malaria eradication and control service/program
did not meet the goal it set out though the program had substantial role in reduction of malaria
prevalence, which was limited both in time and scope. The study also discloses the downgraded
working potential of the program through time due to internal and external factors. The program
was also negatively affected by the dynamic historical developments which the program went
through associated with the endeavor to align the national program with newly introduced
international changes or reforms. Regime changes had also a negative impact in shaping
Malaria Eradication and Control Service/Program. The thesis argues that failure of the program
was started when a universal strategy applied over heterogonous areas by supposing to have the
same etiology of the disease. The Malaria Eradication and Control Service/Program went to
demised in 1993 by political decision of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia without
achieving its goal that it established.
Key words: Malaria, Eradication/control, Service/program, Strategies, Challenges, Dynamism.
Description
Keywords
Malaria, Eradication/control, Service/program, Strategies, Challenges, Dynamism.