The SUCOPPA project aims to enhance malaria surveillance and prevention in Benin through a community- based approach focused on vulnerable populations. It will address asymptomatic carriers of the parasite, who serve as the main reservoir of the disease.
Context
In Benin, as with the global situation, progress in the fight against malaria has stalled. Between 2015 and 2021, malaria-related deaths in the country more than doubled, rising from 1,416 to 2,956, with a similar increase in reported cases, according to the World Health Organization.
Two key obstacles are hindering progress in the fight against malaria, particularly in highly endemic areas. First, there is sub-optimal use of available tools, especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children under five. Second, current strategies fail to adequately address the asymptomatic malaria reservoir, particularly in terms of communication and community awareness, despite it being a major driver of malaria transmission, morbidity, and mortality among these populations. As a result, adherence to control strategies targeting this reservoir, such as intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and infants, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children, remains limited.
Description
The primary objective of the SUCOPPA project is to strengthen malaria surveillance and prevention in Benin through a community-based approach, focusing on pregnant women and children under five. The initial goal is to accurately assess the coverage of current malaria prevention tools and the extent of the asymptomatic reservoir. The next step is to collaborate with communities to design interventions based on innovative awareness campaigns and communication strategies aimed at driving behavioral and societal changes in malaria prevention, taking into account local transmission dynamics and gender inequalities. Lastly, the project’s impact will be thoroughly evaluated.
Impact
By leveraging the results, the study aims to optimize the scaling up of community-based awareness tools developed through the project across all of Benin.
