One Chapter Ends, Another Begins

After five years of work under PMI VectorLink, VL Côte d’Ivoire celebrated the completion of its vector control intervention activities on January 19, 2023 at an event attended by PMI, the NMCP, and other government partners. The team conducted three IRS campaigns in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and worked with the NMCP to distribute nets during the 2021 mass ITN distribution campaign.

VL Côte d’Ivoire highlighted the accomplishments regarding vector control interventions that protected the Ivorian population. The project delivered IRS safely and to the highest quality for the first time at scale in the country; the team shared the first results of the neonicotinoid-based IRS products, which prevented 21,000 malaria cases in 2020 and 2021; and they distributed 3,074,527 PBO-ITNs in 11 districts protecting 5,479,980 people and 1,017,457 households.

The project’s entomological surveillance work will continue, and the team recognized the significant contributions in this space as well, including the rehabilitation of the insectary at the Institut National d’Hygiene Publique (National Institute of Public Health). In addition, VL Côte d’Ivoire supported the enhancement of entomological capabilities through rehabilitation of the Centre d’entomologie médicale et vétérinaire (Center for Medical And Veterinary Entomology) laboratory animal shelter and supported the Institut Pierre Richet (Pierre Richet Institute) with equipment (polymerase chain reaction machine) and supplies that will allow local research institutes to increase the breadth and quality of their vector control monitoring activities and better support the NMCP vector control unit to plan and monitor appropriate vector control interventions.

Among those present at the event were PMI representatives, Pascal Zinzindohoue, Patricia Zembrou Yepassis, and Blaise Kouadio; the Government Health Director, Professor Mamadou Samba; Director of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Dr. Tanoh Mea Antoine; local administrative and health authorities from Sakassou and Nassian districts, and the vector control steering committee. In his speech, Dr. Tanoh highlighted the important contributions the team made to strengthening the NMCP and partner’s capacity in addition to their contributions in vector control.

Congratulations on your accomplishments, VL Côte d’Ivoire! They are well-deserved.