Thematic Support - Disease Control and Elimination

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The theme has a large portfolio that includes research aimed to decrease the burden of the most common causes of illness and mortality in the West African region, namely malaria, infections caused by bacteria and infections caused by viruses. From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme has developed a large portfolio to try to understand the effect of the pandemic in the country and why the severity of the infections has been lower than anticipated. The research conducted by the Theme has generated knowledge in the different areas. Some key examples follow:- Research at the theme works on the control of malaria (to decrease the annual number of cases) and elimination (to reach the 0 cases). In malaria control, the Unit has worked along with the National Malaria Control Program to monitor the efficacy of different anti-malarial medicines and with the results update the National treatment policy of malaria patients. In malaria elimination, the theme has designed novel interventions against malaria in regions where the number of cases is very low (reactive treatment). These studies are important in pre-elimination stages. - Research conducted by the theme has informed national and international policies on the immunization with the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This is important as Pneumococcus is still a main contributor of under-5 mortality in the region.- The Theme provided data for the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine in the country followed by data on the effect of the vaccine in reducing Rotavirus cases and deaths. - During 2020, the first wave of COVID-19 disease did not increase mortality in the rural areas of the country.