BOGANDÉ — Jean Baptiste Béogo, the High Commissioner of Gnagna province, led an advocacy meeting in Bogandé on Thursday to promote the seasonal malaria chemo-prevention (SMC) campaign in the local health district.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the campaign targets children aged 3 to 59 months, offering preventive medications against malaria during the rainy season. These medications are not for treating existing malaria but are aimed at prevention. The campaign, which began on July 26, 2024, will run in four rounds, each 28 days apart, and includes malnutrition screenings and efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

The High Commissioner collaborated with health authorities to engage customary and religious leaders, alongside community heads, to ensure community participation and support for the campaign's goals. Dr. Moussa Sawadogo, chief medical officer of the Bogandé health district, emphasized that children currently sick with malaria or those treated with Cotrimoxazole should not receive the preventive medicine. He advised that such children need to be treated and fully recovered before receiving any preventive doses. Furthermore, in cases of severe adverse effects or if a child vomits after receiving the medication, immediate referral to the nearest health center is necessary.