{"id":60118,"date":"2023-08-17T07:54:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T11:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/?p=60118"},"modified":"2024-07-22T11:13:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:13:34","slug":"a-fathers-commitment-to-malaria-prevention-the-plus-project-in-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/pt\/2023\/08\/a-fathers-commitment-to-malaria-prevention-the-plus-project-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"O empenhamento de um pai na preven\u00e7\u00e3o da mal\u00e1ria: O projeto Plus em a\u00e7\u00e3o.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Stella Abli, Plus Project Communications Coordinator, PSI C\u00f4te d’Ivoire<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year, World Mosquito Day commemorates the groundbreaking 1897 discovery that linked mosquitos to malaria transmission. This finding has since fueled the development of more effective malaria prevention and case management tools, such as the use of malaria chemoprevention strategies<\/a> for pregnant women and young children.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Unitaid<\/a>-funded Plus Project<\/a> supports the use of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC), in which sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) is administered to children under two alongside routine vaccinations and vitamin A supplementation visits. Led by Population Services International, the project seeks to reduce the morbidity and mortality from malaria and anemia among children, with the overall goal of supporting the adoption and scale-up of PMC in the project\u2019s focus countries (Benin, Cameroon, C\u00f4te d’Ivoire, and Mozambique) and other malaria-endemic countries of sub-Saharan Africa. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mr. Oba Jules Kouakou, a nurse, providing Mrs. Nina Kouakou Akissi\u2019s son SP for PMC at the Protection Maternal Infantile health facility in Bouafl\u00e9, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. (Photo credit: M. Fabrice Soumahoro)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Since November 2022, the Plus Project has supported the Ministry of Health in distributing over 40,000 doses of SP in the implementation districts in C\u00f4te d’Ivoire. At the heart of this initiative is Mr. Hermann Akissi, who works as the monitoring and evaluation coordinator for the Plus Project in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, where he lives with his wife and two children in the town of Bouafl\u00e9.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Akissi\u2019s dedication to the Plus Project extends beyond his professional role. As a father, he understands the importance of protecting his children from the devasting effects of malaria, especially the youngest who is most vulnerable to the disease. With the introduction of PMC in their district, Mr. Akissi and his wife, Mrs. Nina Kouakou Akissi, have brought their child to receive SP for PMC during his routine vaccination appointments at their local public health facility. By receiving SP for PMC and routinely using other preventive tools, such as bed nets, Mr. Akissis\u2019s child has remained malaria free.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mr. Hermann Akissi, Plus Project monitoring and evaluation coordinator, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. (Photo credit: Stella Abli)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“I feel privileged to be both a beneficiary of and contributor to the Plus Project. For me, it’s also a strong message sent out to encourage people to accept this intervention. I like the simplicity of administration and data reporting,\u201d <\/em>Mr. Akissi shared. \u201cWhat makes me happy is the improved life expectancy of the infants we bring in, and the chance to see them live through all the major experiences of life [school, work, family, children, fatherhood, motherhood]. What I hope is to be able to extend this intervention to every district in the country.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Akissi is committed to raising awareness of PMC in his local community. As part of his role, he travels to towns where the project is implemented, where he meets with healthcare providers and community leaders to share the benefits of PMC and the importance of allowing their children to receive protection from this intervention. His personal story as a father of a young child who has received PMC adds a touch of empathy during his visits and provides extra reassurance to families at vaccination sessions. Through Mr. Akissi\u2019s devotion to his role, the Plus Project has been well received in his community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on the Plus Project, please visit our website at https:\/\/www.psi.org\/project\/plusproject\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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