Day of the African Child
16 June is the Day of the African Child, hosted by the African Union.
2022 marks 10 years since the World Health Organization — who released new guidelines on malaria chemoprevention earlier this month— recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) for children in the Sahel region. Thanks to the efforts of researchers, healthcare workers, ministries/national malaria control programmes and volunteers, SMC has saved the lives of millions of African children.
We invite you to read, download and share the content below and also to participate in the Day of the African Child social media campaign.
#DAC2022 social media campaign
SMC has helped save the lives of millions of children under 5. Redoubling our commitment will help keep more children protected during the malaria season. Help us spread the word by sharing the social media campaign.
Protecting Children: 10 Years of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention
In an article published in Health Policy Watch, MMV reflects on what 10 years of seasonal malaria chemoprevention has meant for young children in the Sahel, and how to protect more children going forward.
Podcast: On the frontline of malaria prevention during the pandemic
Malaria is a disease whose main victims are children in sub-Saharan Africa. Take a listen to Olimatou, a Gambian health worker who organizes SMC campaigns, on the challenges of protecting children from malaria during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these challenges can be overcome.
Updated WHO recommendations for malaria chemoprevention
When given to the young children and pregnant women who are most vulnerable to malaria, preventive chemotherapy has been shown to be a safe, effective and cost-effective strategy for reducing the disease burden and saving lives. Here are WHO's most updated guidelines.
SMC scale-up significantly reduces child mortality in the Sahel
The safety and effectiveness of SMC in reducing malaria mortality in children has been demonstrated in a large observational study, published in the peer-reviewed science journal, The Lancet.