Burkina Faso: Fight against seasonal malaria, government launches 3rd round of chemoprevention campaign
The Minister of Health of Burkina Faso, Dr. Robert Kargougou, has launched the 3rd round of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign (CPS+) in Gallo, within the Sapouy municipality. This campaign, running until September 23, 2024, also includes screening for acute malnutrition, the destruction of mosquito breeding sites, and vaccinating children who are behind on their immunizations.
CPS+ targets children aged 3 to 59 months, a particularly vulnerable group to malaria, the leading cause of death in the country. During the campaign, Dr. Kargougou and his team visited the Sawadogo family’s home, where four children received the first dose of treatment under the supervision of community distributors. The distributors also physically destroyed mosquito breeding sites to combat the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue.
In the Sapouy health district, 54.000 children are covered by this campaign, while nationwide, approximately 4.5 million children benefit from CPS+. Sapouy’s district medical officer, Dr. Cheick Omar Sanogo, emphasized the importance of advocacy with local leaders and community awareness activities to ensure the campaign’s success. A total of 600 community distributors have been trained to carry out the mission, overcoming initial reluctance from some parents through awareness efforts.
The CPS+ campaign is showing results, as evidenced by Awa Sawadogo, a beneficiary mother. She reports that since her children started receiving the treatment, they no longer contract malaria, allowing them to participate in farming activities without concern during the rainy season.
To eradicate malaria in Burkina Faso, continued collaboration between the population and health authorities is essential. Together, through campaigns like CPS+, and with active family participation, this devastating disease can be defeated.
