2024-04-30 00:08:52
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The Coordinator of the National Malaria Control Program (PNLP), Dr ABOU Yahaya, hosted a press conference on Friday 26. April 2024 at the headquarters of his structure as part of the World Malaria Day celebration. For the coordinator, through this activity it is a matter of clarifying the national strategy for combating malaria centered on three components, namely behavioral change (hygiene and sanitation), concrete interventions and management of case management.
In his opening remarks, the PNLP coordinator recalled that malaria is a real health problem in Niger. “From 2017 to 2022, the number of cases has increased, despite all the interventions being implemented. Certainly there are parameters that we can present and justify, but we believe that it is a challenge for all of us to be able to reverse the trend and achieve the goal of eliminating this disease as it is advocated by 2030.
From an epidemiological point of view, the coordinator added, in 2022 more than 5 million cases have been registered, of which 48% are children under 5 years of age. “It is a fringe that has been hit hard. Unfortunately, of the 5,357,153 cases, we recorded 5,678 deaths, including 63% deaths among children aged 0 to 5 years. These numbers worry us. This led to us, during the development of the National Strategic Plan 2023-2026, reviewing certain strategies or thinking regarding strengthening certain strategies. We cannot do without malaria when the vector is circulating,” he insisted.
The PNLP coordinator insisted on behavioral change, especially the hygiene and sanitation aspect. – This is an important aspect. Neither the PNLP nor the ministry can act on this aspect. This is a question that concerns everyone. Neighborhood leaders, local authorities, civil society, religious leaders, economic players, entrepreneurs, each in their own right must play a role to actively participate in the fight once morest malaria,” specifies Dr. ABOU Yahaya. He then talked regarding specific interventions such as treating intermittent malaria that help prevent malaria in pregnant women and protect the baby. There is also chemotherapy prevention of seasonal malaria. “Every time it rains, we distribute medicine to children aged 3 to 59 months. Depending on the areas, we make 3, 4 or 5 passes. These are reciprocal passages and it depends on the rainfall in the area, he said.
For case management, the PNLP coordinator mentioned the direct strategy for case management, which is done in all health institutions up to the community level through community relays.
The PNLP coordinator returned to the rationale for choosing the theme for the day. “WHO collects data from different countries and analyzes them. We started with the postulate or observation that from 2017 to 2022 the situation has not improved. This is why the WHO calls on us for justice. Since, if children get malaria more than adults, somewhere, we have not played fair. And when we see pregnant women, we must do everything to ensure that they are truly protected. The topic is therefore a question, he said. Dr. ABOU Yahaya announced that funds are being put in place to achieve this goal through awareness raising measures and involvement of all stakeholders. Regarding the malaria vaccine, the malaria program coordinator confirmed that the process is underway. “We are on this. And soon it will start in certain localities selected based on a certain number of criteria. We take care to wait for the opportune moment. Of course, the vaccine is part of the control agent, but the solution is hygiene and sanitation through the evacuation of stagnant water and others. The vaccine will come as a reserve, he stressed.
Farida Ibrahim Assoumane (ONEP)
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