Issifi Sanouna, epidemiologist Interview in English Windows Media | MP3

My name is Issifi Sanouna, I am an epidemiologist. My role during the massive campaign to distribute free bed nets in Niger, was heading the preparation, execution and follow up.

Before the distribution, there was an awareness campaign for the entire population on how to use bed nets.  During the distribution, the atmosphere was lively and celebratory.  People even found ways to have more nets than they should have, which proves that people were really happy with the program.

Now, after the distribution there are some obvious results. Before the campaign our country had a worrying malaria situation. And straight after the campaign, the following year, the results we recorded were far lower than the average number of cases that we used to record in our country. That shows the impact of the program.

The free distribution of insecticide treated bed nets in November and December 2005, then in March 2006 have contributed significantly to the reduction of morbidity, that’s the number of cases of malaria, and mortality, that’s the number of deaths from malaria in the country. I think it’s very clear. During the evaluation, we found that insecticide treated bed nets were available in practically every single family.

In the first phase of the evaluation, which was carried out during the dry season when the malaria mosquito is not active, people said they had a net and when we ask them “show us your net”, they got it out right away to show us. But they didn’t hang it up in most cases because there was no danger from the mosquitoes at that time.

The second phase of the follow-up study was carried out during the rainy season when malaria is a danger, because there are mosquitoes. At that time, everywhere we went, we found bed nets hung in tents, houses and even in the courtyards.

During the evaluation, I met a family, and when I asked them “who sleeps under the net?” they said that the whole family sleeps under it: the father, the mother and their two children. The father said, “Listen, during the distribution, it’s true that people said it’s to protect children under the age of five and pregnant women, but we also need to be protected against the disease because we make children”. That struck me and stayed with me.

Just to say that the campaign was widely welcomed. Everyone appreciated it and the users were not just the prime targets of the campaign, that is children under five and pregnant women, but the entire population.