ACCESS-SMC strengthens pharmacovigilance practices in Mali
Mali was one of the first countries to introduce Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in 2012, in an attempt to reduce rates of malaria among children under five during the high transmission season. In 2015, under ACCESS-SMC, SMC was rolled out in 48 of Mali's districts, and this year the SMC campaign will be rolled out in all 63 districts.
In order to accurately monitor cases of serious adverse reaction and improve the pharmacovigilance system in Mali, 20 of the districts benefitting from SMC under the ACCESS-SMC project, are using New Technologies of Information and Communication (NTIC) in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Program and the National Pharmacovigilance Center, to strengthen existing pharmacovigilance practices. As part of this initiative, SMS messages have been sent to all health agents and officers working at health facilities located within the ACCESS-SMC districts. The SMS messages serve as a reminder to health personnel that it is crucial they report any adverse reaction occurring during the distribution of the SMC drugs.
As part of this season's distribution, in addition to the SMS messages, health agents and officers working in these districts will be called 15 days after each cycle, in order to establish whether or not any adverse reactions were witnessed.