Cameroon’s North and Far North Regions face high malaria rates during the rainy season, affecting millions annually and putting children at risk. Fathers Djouldé Nestor and Oumarou Mamadou faced frequent malaria cases in their families, causing health worries and financial strain due to treatment costs. In 2024, Jhpiego and its partners launched a seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign, reaching over 512,000 households and treating nearly 794,000 children with preventive medication. Community health workers played a crucial role, delivering treatments and educating families—empowering parents like Djouldé and Oumarou to actively participate in protecting their children.
Heavy rainfall in Cameroon’s North and Far North Regions is typical during the country’s rainy season, with rain falling nearly every four days during the peak months of July to October. These conditions fuel the spread of malaria and each year, around 7 million people in the country are affected by malaria, with over 11,000 lives lost—many of them children.
For parents like Djouldé Nestor and Oumarou Mamadou, malaria is an ever-present threat. Djouldé Nestor, a 40-year-old father of ten in the North Region, often worried about how malaria could impact his family, especially his children, three of whom are under the age of five and highly susceptible to infection.
“Malaria causes anemia, convulsions, and restlessness in children. I do not want to lose any of my children,” said Djouldé. “The disease brings me sleepless nights, as many parents can be seen rushing their children to the health center. There are times when the health center is overcrowded, and there is no space to admit patients.”
Another father in the region, Oumarou Mamadou, lives in the village of Ouro Kawobiri with his wife Hapsatou Boubakari and seven children. He often faced significant medical expenses during the rainy season due to frequent malaria cases among his children, spending between 20,000 and 40,000 CFA francs on malaria treatment for his children.
Everything changed for both families when they encountered the seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in 2024 led by Jhpiego in partnership with the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health. The campaign reached 512,384 households and treated 793,867 children with preventive malaria medication called sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine, SPAQ for short. This success was achieved because of more than 960 trained community health workers, like Haman Sadjo in the Bibémi Health District, who delivered SPAQ treatments and education to families, including Djouldé Nestor’s and Oumarou Mamadou’s.
“When Haman arrives at my home, I receive the medication from him and administer it myself, ensuring my children take the second and third doses as prescribed,” said Djouldé. “When I know the date for the next campaign, I do not send my children elsewhere because I want to monitor and ensure they take all the doses. I usually mark the dates in my calendar and call Haman when the campaign begins.”
Haman commends Djouldé’s commitment. “I am always impressed by Djouldé’s zeal and determination. He is one of the few parents who closely follows the campaign. He calls me when the campaign begins so I can start administering the SPAQ medication from his home to ensure his children remain healthy,” says Haman.
Oumarou Mamadou was similarly determined after he heard an announcement about the SMC campaign while listening to a community radio station. Later, a local crier in the village informed him about the campaign’s start, and soon after, a community health worker visited his home to educate him on the importance of giving SPAQ medication to young children during the rainy season to protect them from malaria.
“Since the community mobilizer started visiting my home every rainy season to administer the SPAQ medication to my three children, I am relieved from running to the health center every time for malaria treatment and spending huge sums of money,” said Oumarou. “My children are strong and healthy. I keep all their vaccination cards and ensure close follow-up.”
Oumarou has seen firsthand how the campaign has impacted his life and benefited many families in his community.
Our children are protected, and we are witnessing a significant decrease in the number of deaths caused by malaria.”
– Oumarou Mamadou
Parental participation in the seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign has made a big difference.
“Malaria cases are continuing to decline in Bibémi and 14 other districts thanks to parental involvement and commitment,” said Alexis Gnafene, a Training Supervision and Quality Specialist. “Parents like Djouldé serve as role models in the fight against malaria and will be used to encourage others in the community.
The stories of both fathers is a testament to the positive impact malaria programs have had on families in Cameroon. Children who are protected from malaria have improved health outcomes and reduced financial burdens on families. By empowering communities and protecting children, malaria services are not just saving lives—they are changing them.
This story was reviewed by Dr. Gladys Tetteh, Jhpiego’s Senior Technical Director for Malaria.
Solange Shenwe is a Communications and Knowledge Management Officer in Jhpiego’s Cameroon office.