Implementation of the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in infants (IPTi) within the MULTIPLY project has been launched in Togo – 19 May 2022

 

The implementation of IPTi under the MULTIPLY project started in Togo on the 19th of May 2022; IPTi is being piloted in Haho district, of the Plateaux region. The first child to receive IPTi through the MULTIPLY project was registered at the AMAPAKPE health center. Pilot implementation will be rolled out over the next 3 weeks to all 27 health facilities in the district.

The following stakeholders were present for the beginning of IPTi implementation: community members, the Director of the Haho Health District, the focal point for malaria in the district, members of the Haho Health District management team, representatives of the Togo MULTIPLY project team, as well as the manager and health care personnel of the AMAPAKPE health center.

Representatives of the Togo MULTIPLY project team and the District Director gave a final briefing on IPTi implementation and reviewed the mother’s itinerary as soon as she arrives in the health center, with the weighing of the child as the first point of passage.

The head of the AMAPAKPE health center, Mr. DAGNON Kwami, chaired the activity and reaffirmed that the AMAPAKPE health center was ready to start implementing IPTi.

The Director of the Haho Health District, Dr. ATEKPE Payakissim, took the floor to welcome the mothers and explain the project. In collaboration with the members of the coordination team of the MULTIPLY project in Togo, the head of the AMAPAKPE health center proceeded to counsel the women on the importance of vaccinating their children and to follow the vaccination schedule and make sure they bring in their children for vaccination when requested. During the question-and-answer session, one of the women asked if she had to pay anything to receive the SP; the announcement that the SP would be completely free of charge was very well received by the mothers. When asked if the treatment was enough to protect the child from malaria, the mothers were encouraged to continue using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) provided by the malaria control program as IPTi is part of a package of malaria prevention methods that should be used.

Implementation continued with the first IPTi-eligible child. The child was weighed before administration of the dispersible SP pill in a small amount of clean water by the health facility staff. The child was observed for thirty minutes and the medication was well tolerated. Implementation will continue for 2 years. It is envisioned that the lessons learnt from this pilot implementation will lead to the national scale up of IPTi in the future.

Debriefing session before the launch of the implementation: seated on the chair, Dr. ATEKPE Payakissim, Director of the Haho Health District, on his right wearing a MULTIPLY T-shirt, Dr. SADIO Arnold, local supervisor of the MULTIPLY implementation component and member of the country coordination team.

Administration of IPTi to the first eligible child

Counselling session with mothers/caregivers

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