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An impact assessement of Malaria control through environmental and irrigation water management

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An impact assessement of Malaria control through environmental and irrigation water management

Regassa E. Namara, Meredith Giordano, Priyanie Amerasinghe, Eline Boelee, Parakrama Weligamage, Ananda Weerasinghe, S.R. Jayanetti and A.M.G. Manel Yapabandara 2008

Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 35 (1): 107-128

Malaria is a major public health challenge in much of the developing world and inflicts tremendous social and economic cost:. Current research concentrates largely on the development of new drugs and vaccines, but there is simultaneously renewed interest in examining agro-ecological and environmental options to control malarilL. This paper presents the results and ex-post impacts of an action research project in Sri Lanka aimetl at testing the viability of environmental and water control strategies to reduce the incidence of malaria aiid thereby improve the overall well-being and welfare of affected communities. The study relied on multiple sources of data including monitoring and evaluation exercises during project implementation, other sec ondary data sources, as well as primary data collected through structured questionnaire surveys. Twc) methods were employed to determine the economic benefits of malaria control to the households: the traditional cost OF illness method and the willingness to pay approach based on contingent valuation method. The results of the study suggest the potential of irrigation water and environmental managemer it as a viable alternative or complementary to ongoing malaria control and eradication practices in Sri Lanka, and possibly elsewhere.

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