Vaccination ,cbemoprevention and community mobilization strengthen the response during this rainy season.
Malaria vaccination and seasonal chemoprevention strengthen the Far North’s response to malaria during the rainy season.
In the Far North region, the fight against malaria remains a public health priority. Faced with a resurgence of cases during the rainy season, health authorities are implementing a range of strategies to protect the most vulnerable populations, particularly children under five and pregnant women.
Thousands of community health workers regularly travel through the neighborhoods of Maroua and the most remote areas to administer free preventive treatments to children aged 3 to 59 months as part of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program. This community-based approach brings healthcare closer to households and reduces severe forms of the disease.
In Dougoy, a neighborhood of Maroua, Aïssatou, a mother of three, is delighted with the results observed within her family. « Since these campaigns have been running, my children get sick less often. We go to the hospital less frequently for malaria, » she says.
The region is targeting more than 1.5 million children through this strategy. For Dr. Jean-Pierre Kidwang, regional coordinator of the Technical Group for Malaria Control in the Far North, community engagement is a crucial component of the response. « Traditional and religious leaders, women’s associations, and civil society organizations are mobilized to strengthen awareness campaigns among the population, » he explains.
In addition to chemoprevention, the Far North region is also focusing on malaria
vaccination, now deployed in several health districts. This innovation complements other existing interventions and helps reduce severe cases and deaths related to malaria among young children.
Health teams also take advantage of their presence in households to identify children who have not completed their vaccination schedule and to monitor pregnant women who have interrupted their preventive treatment. This integrated approach strengthens the provision of care for the benefit of communities.
In Palar, in the Maroua I district, Moussa Mahamat appreciates this comprehensive approach. « The agents don’t just come to distribute medication. They also raise awareness about the importance of vaccination, the correct use of mosquito nets, and respecting the doses administered at home. This helps us better protect our children, » he testifies.
The results recorded in recent years are encouraging. Malaria, which once accounted for nearly a quarter of deaths in the region, now represents only about 11% of recorded deaths. This improvement is due to a combination of strategies, including malaria vaccination, seasonal chemoprevention, free distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets, and pre-positioning of medications in hard-to-reach areas.
During this rainy season, the Far North reaffirms its commitment to combating malaria. Thanks to the mobilization of all stakeholders and the complementary nature of interventions, the region continues its fight to preserve the gains made and save more lives, particularly those of children.
