Active case detection in Paletwa Township, Chin State during COVID-19 pandemic

The medial mobile teams and integrated community malaria volunteers (ICMVs) of Medical Action Myanmar (MAM) are at the frontline providing essential health services to the vulnerable populations of both local and mobile migrant populations who live in very hard to reach places. MAM provides healthcare services in Paletwa, Chin State, very high malaria burden areas covering 50,000 population in 200 villages since 2016. Due to the unprecedented situation of COVID-19 in Myanmar, the provision of health services at the community level was somewhat disrupted by the travel restrictions and physical distancing rules. Nevertheless, MAM continues serving health services, including malaria to vulnerable populations with adjusted strategies. For instance, in April, MAM identified 118 hot spot villages, which has more than 5% Pf positivity rate out of 200 villages in Paletwa Township, Chin State. MAM mobile team and ICMV approached the villagers door to door for the testing and individual health education session up to 62 out of 118 hot spot villages in June. As a result, a total of 154 positive cases were found from 14,605 tests. COVID-19 could not stop MAM healthcare services for the community.