Soum/djibo: Authorities relaunch the fight against malaria in children The High Commissioner of Soum Province launched the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in Djibo this Thursday. Combined with malnutrition screening for children under 5, this initiative aims to strengthen the health protection of young children during the rainy season.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the official launch ceremony for the anti-malaria campaign in Soum province took place at the Djibo Urban Medical Center (CMU). Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), a widely recognized preventive strategy, targets children aged 6 to 59 months, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease during the rainy season.
In his address, the High Commissioner welcomed this large-scale health operation, which is part of the province's public health priorities. He recalled that malaria remains one of the leading causes of death among children under five in Burkina Faso. He urged parents to cooperate fully with health workers, both during home visits and in health facilities.
The campaign is based on a mixed approach: mobile teams will conduct door-to-door visits, while fixed teams will be deployed in health facilities and community gathering sites. This dual strategy aims to reach as many children as possible and ensure effective coverage.
In addition to distributing antimalarial drugs, malnutrition screening will be conducted in parallel. This synergy of intervention will enable early detection of cases of child malnutrition and referral of children to appropriate care.
The High Commissioner commended the health workers for their professionalism and commitment, despite the security challenges facing the province. He reaffirmed the authorities' support for all initiatives aimed at improving the health of the population, particularly that of children.
Health workers and partners hope that with community mobilization and the commitment of local authorities, this campaign will be a success and help save many lives in Soum.