Master Training In Madagascar Sets the Tone for Upcoming IRS Campaign

This week’s Fist Bump Friday is dedicated to the PMI VectorLink Madagascar Team for successfully carrying out their master training with special attention to COVID-19 mitigation that shows a deep commitment to the safety of their staff, partners, and beneficiaries. Across the project, country teams swiftly rose to the challenge of implementing life-saving interventions and malaria vector control in the context of COVID-19 earlier this year. Now, equipped with the best practices from other countries’ campaign and training experience, the Madagascar team is proving that we can excel in our objectives while taking every precaution to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The Master Training took place from September 21^st to September 26^th in the Tulear municipal conference room which has several ceiling fans running as well as open doors and windows. This training was held in preparation for the upcoming spray campaign set to take place from November 2^nd through December 3^rd in five districts with 2-5 operational sites each. In total, 16 Operation Site Coordinators (OSC) and 17 Assistant Operation Site Coordinators (AOSC) attended the training and will in turn train the Team Leaders in their respective operational sites. Prior to entering the training facility, all participants used handwashing systems at the entrance, had their temperatures checked by a digital thermometer, and stepped in antiseptic water to sanitize shoes. All participants wore masks for the duration of the training and frequently applied disinfectant gels or sanitizers to their hands. Inside the venue, careful attention was paid to maintain social distance, with chairs adequately spread apart.

These measures posed no hindrance to the execution of the training, and government officials who attended the opening session were impressed to find their recommendations to mitigate COVID-19 risks taken to heart. Support for the mater training came from all levels of the Ministry of Health as well as the NMCP. The PMI Madagascar mission even facilitated video conferencing to allow for some trainers to attend remotely, thus limiting travel. Through this collaborative effort, the training was a success, with localized training cascading from OSCs across the five districts in the weeks that followed. The VL Madagascar team’s diligence in implementing strategies to mitigate COVID-19 in their race to the starting line denotes a dedication to the health and safety that will pervade throughout their spray campaign.

Congratulations to our Madagascar team for exemplary training!