Ouagadougou: The Regional Health Directorate (DRS) of the North organized an information and advocacy meeting on Wednesday to promote the upcoming vaccination campaign against typhoid fever, noted an AIB journalist. The campaign, scheduled from January 23 to 29, 2025, aims to involve various stakeholders to ensure a successful operation across the provinces of Yatenga, Loroum, Passor©, and Zondoma, covering the region’s six health districts.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting aimed to raise awareness among administrative officials, health actors, community leaders, and media personnel, ensuring strong social involvement. Under the leadership of Kouilga Albert Zongo, the Secretary General of the Northern Region, participants engaged in discussions to better understand the issues related to typhoid fever, often referred to as ‘dirty hands disease.’
The vaccination campaign targets children aged 9 months to 14 years, with typhoid fever vaccines being administered at public health facilities, schools, places of worship, markets, and sites hosting internally displaced persons. Dr. Hount©ni Toguy©ni, the Regional Director of Health for the North, outlined this strategy during the meeting.
The DRS Nord management team provided an overview of the disease’s transmission modes, the target audience, campaign objectives, expectations, and the communication plan for social mobilization. Twenty-one key messages were shared to ensure active participation from stakeholders in informing and raising awareness among the population.
The SGR, representing Governor Thoma Yampa, emphasized the need for general mobilization to reach the vaccination target of 893,424 children. Despite the challenging security context, national authorities prioritize the population’s health as a major concern.