This week UNICEF is working with the Togo Department of
Health to complete this year’s project designed to prevent malaria in children. This initiative is funded by Japan.
Those included are children from age 3 months to 59 months. Malaria in this region of Togo is quite seasonal. Here in the north, there is a rainy season from July through October. There is lots of standing water and hence lots of mosquitoes. Children are quite susceptible to malaria during this season, and it is a major cause of death for children. This project is being carried out in 4 districts of northern Togo. So far, results are encouraging.
A three-year project began this year wherein children are given a 3-day course of a combination of 2 medications to prevent malaria: sulfadoxine-pyrmethionine and amodioquine. The 3-day course is repeated one month later and then again a month after that. Prior to receiving treatment, families are asked if the child has been having fevers. If so, immediate on site malaria testing is done, and if positive, treatment is started. Children who have not had fevers or who have a negative test are eligible for the preventive protocol.
Today after finishing our teaching, our UNICEF colleagues took us out to a village east of Dapaong where they are carrying out this program. Local health workers met us there, and we accompanied them as they administered the medication to several children in the village.
Today after finishing our teaching, our UNICEF colleagues took us out to a village east of Dapaong where they are carrying out this program. Local health workers met us there, and we accompanied them as they administered the medication to several children in the village.
Villagers gathered to welcome us. We shook hands with all the men of the village. A few speeches were made and a ceremonial bowl of water with flour mixed in it was passed around. We could either drink some or pour out a little on the ground for our ancestors. I chose to pour some on the ground!
Then we went to the first home.
A health worker explains the process to the mother of 2 small children. The pills are given to the mother who gives them to her daughter to swallow.
The local chief is on the left in the shirt with yellow and maroon swirls.
The bitter taste is just about to hit her.
The health worker marks an “X” on the home in chalk to indicate that that the children of that house have been given the preventive medication.
A few of the older children watch the process from nearby.
We move on to the next house.
For this little one, the medicine is wrapped in a scrap of paper and crushed by an empty bottle.
The medicine is placed in a cup and mixed with water and a
sugar cube.
The medicine is given to the toddler.
Big brother receives his medicine and sugar cube.
The house of this family is marked with an “X.”
