PSI

Benin’s recent move to representative government is accelerating the western African country's economic growth. Today, Benin is considered a model of democracy. However, the battle against health challenges – including malaria and HIV – continues.

PSI/Benin set the process of the institutional strengthening of its local structure. In January 2011, PSI/Benin becomes ABMS (Association Béninoise de Marketing Social et la communication pour la santé), PSI's affiliate.

ABMS was founded in 1992 to help prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Today, it’s estimated that ABMS’s condom distribution and effective health communication strategies, contribute to significant health impact in Benin.

Health Areas

Child Survival, HIV, Malaria, Reproductive Health

Health Impact

ABMS estimates that in 2010 its products and services helped avert:

• HIV Cases : 1.253
• Unintended Pregnancies: 42.543
• Malaria Cases: 464.890
• Diarrhea Cases: 93.095
• Couple-Years of Protection : 142.908

Health Interventions

• Male Condom
• HIV Counseling and Testing
• STI Treatment
• Injectable Contraception
• Family Planning/HIV Integration

Improving Health in Benin

Malaria

Anti-malarial products are not always available and sometimes illicitly overpriced in Benin. ABMS launched its malaria program in 1998 to equalize access and ensure fair market pricing. SuperMoustiquaire was the first pre-treated insecticide-treated net (ITN) sold in urban areas via the commercial sector.

In 2006, ABMS switched to a long-acting net, SuperMoustiquaire Longue Duree, and began providing ITNs directly to pregnant women and children under 5 via antenatal clinics. More than 70,000 ITNs were distributed at antenatal clinics in Zou and Collines in 2007 and 2008. ABMS also offers the ALAFIA brand home insecticide retreatment kit.

In 2008, PSI joined the National Malaria Program's efforts to help pregnant woman obtain artemisinine-based combination treatment (ACT). ABMS also participates in ACTWatch, a research project focused on exploring methods to increase ACT availability and decrease the consumer price of ACT.

HIV

President Thomas Boni Yayi and other political leaders publically support HIV/AIDS prevention programs. However, the country lacks resources to fund a national strategic plan to help the 87,000 Beninese living with HIV and prevent that number from growing. ABMS stepped in to help by launching Prudence male condoms in 1993 – selling them through more than 18,000 commercial vendors nationwide and distributing more than 1.5 million condoms that first year.

ABMS added a thinner version (Prudence Plus) in 2004 and a scented and textured version in 2009 – after it surveyed teens and learned that brand identity is the most important factor in promoting consistent use.

ABMS also manages voluntary counseling and testing services and STI treatment programs. Its mobile counseling and testing model, developed in October 2008, has led to better access to HIV testing and scaled up the number of people tested.

Child Survival

Diarrhea prevalence is part due to lack of safe drinking water and part social factors, such as poor hygiene.1 ABMS’s children’s program addresses both of these barriers. And in 2008, PSI partnered with USAID, UNICEF and Abt Associates to offer an integrated diarrhea treatment and prevention program that provides a kit that includes OraselZinc diarrhea treatment, and Aquatabs, a chlorine-based household water treatment. ABMS creates demand for the kits through mass media campaigns and peer education activities that combine messages on safe water storage, breastfeeding and hand washing. Special national and international events such as the fiftieth anniversary of Benin's Independence Day, African children day, international hand washing day, etc, are suitable occasions to mobilize targets in markets places, schools bus/taxis stops, etc.

Reproductive Health

ABMS distributes oral and injectable contraceptives (Harmonie and Equilibre brands) through the private sector in Benin. It’s estimated that these products, as well improved training for family planning providers has helped prevent 174.497 unintended pregnancies in 2010. Additionally, Family Planning event days have been adopted in 2009, as a means of promoting long term family planning methods by insertion of implants and IUDs.

1. 1. Source: “Addressing diarrhea prevalence in the West African Middle Belt: social and geographic dimensions in a case study for Benin,” International Journal of Health Geographics, April 2008.

Latest News

• Senator Coon’s wife visits ABMS’s and PC’s Amour et Vie program in Benin
  June 14, 2011
• USAID's POUZN Project Leads to Increased Household Water Treatment
  January 7, 2011
• Event: Working Toward Reducing Maternal Mortality and Increasing Access to Reproductive Health
  October 29, 2010