The initiative celebrating healthcare innovations is focusing this year on NTDs, malaria and tuberculosis.
The Social Innovation in Health Initiative has selected our Learner Treatment Kit Project in Malawi as one of 25 innovative solutions to global health problems. The LTK Project represents the first time that teachers have been trained to test and treat for malaria in school children.
The Learner Treatment Kit is a simple first aid kit, intended to be available to all school children during school hours, for the management of uncomplicated malaria and other basic health problems. At each school in the Zomba District of Southern Malawi, between two and four trained teachers received seven days training in the use of the LTK, followed by a three-day mentorship period at a local health centre in the use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests, as well as ongoing support.
The LTK Project
The LTK programme aims to encourage school children to seek prompt treatment for any health problem. By improving the management of common health problems experienced by school children, like malaria, the LTK is envisaged to reduce the number of days lost due to absenteeism from school. All services of the LTK are provided free of charge. In the event of any complicated or urgent health complaint, school children are immediately referred to a local health centre. Find out more about the LTK Project.
The Social Innovation in Health Initiative
The Social Innovation in Health Initiative is a collaboration of the University of Cape Town and the University of Oxford, with technical and financial support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative hopes to transform healthcare delivery in the Global South through innovation and has three specific aims:
- To identify grass roots innovative solutions that have been impactful in improving healthcare delivery
- To learn from the dedicated individuals responsible for their creation and implementation, and thus foster a better understanding of these solutions.
- To support healthcare innovators grow and scale their work across contexts and regions
See what other healthcare innovations were shortlisted.
The LTK programme is being implemented by the National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Malawi in collaboration with Save the Children International and is funded by Save the Children (Child Sponsorship). The evaluation is being conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in partnership with the Malaria Alert Centre, College of Medicine, Blantyre and is supported by a grant from the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).