Identifying problems and possible product solutions

About 3.2 billion people are at risk of malaria, with approximately 881,000 deaths every year, with nine out of ten deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the huge human cost malaria poses a significant economic burden. It is thought to cost African countries more than US$12 billion every year in direct losses. Up to 40% of African health budgets are spent on malaria each year

Problems with the user:

• Not taking the correct dose of medication is an issue, leading to the spreading of the virus. Also the population loses confidence in the drug if it is seen not to be effective.
• Poor, rural families are most at risk. Due to them being kilometres from the nearest healthcare centre. Reaching these families is key to malaria control. 
• Affordability is an issue.A malaria stricken family can lose on average 40% of their income. 
• Education; illiteracy is an issue along with some prescribers issuing the drugs despite negative test results. Leading to a possible decrease in the drug effectiveness.

Environmental problems:

• Harsh environment, high temperatures, 
• Lack of proper roads in rural areas.
• Some affected villages are located in forest areas. 

What Is Indoor Residual Spraying?
As its name implies, IRS involves coating the walls and other surfaces of a house with a residual insecticide. For several months, the insecticide will kill mosquitoes and other insects that come in contact with these surfaces. IRS does not directly prevent people from being bitten by mosquitoes. Rather, it usually kills mosquitoes after they have fed if they come to rest on the sprayed surface. IRS thus prevents transmission of infection to other persons. To be effective, IRS must be applied to a very high proportion of households in an area (usually >80%).

Possible product:

A backpack concept that incorporates a tank of mosquito insecticide (Indoor Residual Spraying-
IRS) along with hand held malaria detection kits, malaria nets and malaria medication. Having all these preventive measures in one mobile product could yield very successful results. A team of mobile malaria workers (MMW) assigned to strategic villages could significantly combat the disease.  

With an emphasises on space efficiency and ergonomic design, the backpack will have multiple compartments. Globally understood graphics on the doors of these compartments will illustrate it's contents, as this will communicate to a wider audience and remove any language barrier. 

Products to be modelled:

Backpack with tank/s and possibly solar panels. 

Malaria testing kit with simple interface to let user know of a positive or negative( This product will be a streamlined simple device.) 

Malaria net contained in paper wrapper (Could fold out to illustrate instructions?)

I will further develop and add more detail to this product as the weeks go by. 

http://www.malariajournal.com/content/8/S1/S2

http://www.malariajournal.com/content/14/1/279
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/reduction/irs.html