U.S. Ambassador met with communities and health workers in Indenie Djuablin
On Tuesday August 23, U.S. Ambassador Richard Bell visited beneficiaries of a Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Program in Anékouadiokro, a village in Indenie Djuablin. During this visit, part of the USAID-funded Stop Djekoidjo malaria activity, Ambassador Bell also interacted with Community Health Workers who are providing essential health care services related to malaria.
Stop Djekoidjo is the first USAID bilateral malaria project funded by the U.S. President Malaria Initiative (PMI) in Côte d’Ivoire. The project supports the Côte d’Ivoire Government’s efforts to control, prevent and eliminate malaria. Stop Djekoidjo partners with the National Malaria Control Program (in French PNLP) to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment in health facilities and communities in 45 health districts across 12 regions to increase access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) through local radio broadcasts, door-to-door visits by women groups and occasional gathering around economic activities.. Trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) activities to community residents to increase their access to and utilization of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs). CHWs also provide integrated community case management (iCCM) of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea to children under five years of age living in communities located more than 5 km from a health center or having a difficult access to a health facility.
“I am pleased to see the results in this community. Malaria is largely preventable and treatable with proper risk mitigation and treatment measures. I encourage populations to sleep under bed nets, pregnant women to attend antenatal consultations and take preventive malaria treatment, and quickly take their child to a healthcare center if he/she has a fever.” declared Ambassador Richard Bell. The United States is the largest contributor to the health sector in Côte d’Ivoire. “I commend the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, mainly the Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Program, for their daily efforts to bend the curve of malaria transmission and prevent malaria-related deaths. Your efforts are paying off. There has been an impressive reduction in malaria mortality since 2016. We are convinced that our anti-malaria investments in Côte d’Ivoire are worth it” declared Ambassador Bell.