Environmental management activities in malaria control in Africa

As a contribution to malaria control in Africa, not only should development projects be more consistently designed and operated so as to avoid mosquito breeding in inhabited areas but African communities whose citizens are ready to volunteer their effort and time should be helped to organize individual and community action against malaria vectors. Many measures might be undertaken by individuals, including children, as routine household hygiene measures, and others might be organized as community efforts with the guidance of regional or community health staff. However, all community actions should be decided and carried out by community groups, and individuals from the community should take part in planning and in monitoring the results. Descriptions are given of the elements of three proposed field trials from which practical guidelines should emerge, and it is suggested that the success of a trial should be judged as much by favourable reactions of citizens as by reduction of vector densities.