DRAFT 27 July 2004
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HORN
OF AFRICA NETWORK FOR MONITORING ANTI-MALARIAL TREATMENT [HANMAT]
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,
the
consensus agreement adopted by the Conference on Establishing a Network for
Monitoring Antimalarial Treatment in the Horn of Africa, held in Cairo, 23-25
March 2004.
Malaria
is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and economic loss in our countries,
Drug-resistant malaria is increasing, leading to further deterioration of the malaria situation,
We
share conditions that lead to emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria
e.g. common borders, population mobility and complex emergency situations,
There
is need for technical and financial support to face these problems,
As a group we would have the strength to tackle issues that as individual countries we are unlikely to be able to handle,
Experience
in other parts of the world had demonstrated the positive impact of such
network activity.
·
WE DO HEREBY
ESTABLISH
The Horn of Africa Network for Monitoring Antimalarial Treatment,
and
·
ACCEPT THIS
CONSTITUTION.
The
name of this organization shall be The Horn of Africa Network for
Monitoring Anti-malarial Treatment, hereinafter referred to as “HANMAT.”
ARICLE 2 : Goals and Objectives
HANMAT
is a non-governmental,
non-profit-making, politically and religiously neutral organization. The main purpose of
HANMAT is to assist in the development of evidence-based antimalarial treatment
policy for the member countries in order to provide effective malaria treatment
to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality. To accomplish this goal, HANMAT will work in partnership with its member
countries and associate members to pursue the following objectives:
2.1 To rationalize
the establishment and distribution of the sentinel sites for monitoring
antimalarial drugs in the member countries,
2.2 To regularly
monitor therapeutic efficacy of the first- and second-line anti-malarial drugs
in the sub-region and other potential alternative treatments (potentially to
include therapy for severe malaria),
2.3 To establish and
support a sub-regional database on antimalarial drug efficacy and develop
mechanisms for exchange of information and expertise between member countries,
2.4 To facilitate the
effective communication of results and implications of antimalarial drug
efficacy monitoring to country-level decision-makers,
2.5 To establish a
mechanism for data interpretation at the network level for use in updating
antimalarial treatment policy for member countries,
2.6
To initiate
and promote priority operational research relevant to effective case management
of malaria in the member countries,
2.7 To identify and
collectively address issues related to malaria case management within and
between member countries.
ARTICLE 3: Project Approach
HANMAT shall strive to
develop the capability to monitor anti-malarial drug treatment efficacy through
the following outputs:
3.1 Deployment of standardized methodologies for evaluating
anti-malarial treatment to be applied in the member countries,
3.2 Establishment
of an operational and comprehensive network of sentinel sites with competent
personnel for assessing anti-malarial treatment,
3.3 Regular
analysis of data from the network and results shared at country- and network-
level,
3.4 Based
on data gathered, analyzed, shared, and reviewed under 3.3, HANMAT shall develop recommendations
for review of country- and network-level drug policies and treatment
guidelines.
ARTICLE IV: Membership
4.1
Full membership
(Annex A) in HANMAT will comprise
the National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) in the member countries. Other full members will be accepted at
the discretion of the HANMAT Secretariat,
4.2
Associate
membership (Annex B) will comprise, at the discretion of the HANMAT
Secretariat:
4.2.1 Research
and academic institutions and organizations within the member countries with
interest in researching malaria chemotherapy and/or malaria control,
4.2.2 Research
institutions external to the member countries as collaborators/partners in
research on anti-malarial drug resistance,
4.2.3
Collaborating institutions, organizations (including donors) and
international agencies.
4.3
Other members shall be admitted at the discretion of the HANMAT Secretariat.
ARTICLE
V: Governance, Management and Organization
HANMAT shall be governed, managed, and organized under 2
major components: The HANMAT Secretariat and the National Teams.
The Secretariat will be the governing, advisory, and representative coordinating body responsible for liaison between countries; coordination; quality control; research and policy development; and external relations with other institutions and organizations including donors and international bodies. HANMAT will be governed by the Secretariat and managed on its behalf by the chairperson and secretaries who shall have operational responsibilities.
5.1.1
Composition of the Secretariat
The
Secretariat will include at least one representative from every National
Malaria Control Programme of the member countries. In addition, at least one other member from each of the
member countries, the Chairperson, two joint secretaries and co-opted members
who could be representatives from collaborating institutions will be
included. The Secretariat shall
include a maximum of 15 members,
however this number may be modified as needed and approved by the Secretariat.
5.1.2 Functions/Responsibilities of
the Secretariat:
5.1.2.1 Coordination: The Secretariat will be responsible for coordination and planning of the various activities of the
network including research, training, evaluation, and resource mobilization and
ensure the communication of Secretariat actions to the HANMAT membership,
5.1.2.2
Communication: The Secretariat will be responsible for promotion and facilitation of
communication among member countries and other agencies and institutions,
5.1.2.3
External Liaison
Functions: At the discretion of HANMAT will share database and results with other networks,
institutions, and organizations and liaise with external bodies,
5.1.2.4 Technical
Support: The Secretariat will be responsible for establishing
and providing technical support to the National Teams in member countries, and
for provision of technical inputs for developing policy and/or therapeutic
guidelines based on the results of anti-malarial treatment efficacy monitoring,
5.1.2.5 Centralized
Information Resource: The Secretariat will be responsible for establishing
and maintaining a HANMAT database
and for ensuring that data and findings are shared among partners,
5.1.2.6 Cross-border Collaboration, Communication, and Harmonization: