First Celebration of World Meningitis Day in Côte d'Ivoire

The Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage through the Directorate General of Health and the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS) organized the first celebration of World Meningitis Day in Côte d'Ivoire from September 30 to October 6, 2024.     

The activity began with an online awareness campaign. It consisted in publishing a daily episode of the cartoon ''KOLO et la méningite'' on the YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok pages, accounts and channel entitled ''Stop Meningitis in Africa''. The cartoon raises awareness about meningitis, and tells the story of a teenager suffering from the disease who, despite his handicap due to the disease, gives himself the means to succeed in life and to raise awareness among his peers. “Kolo et la méningite” was produced by CSRS in partnership with Oxford University. In addition to being broadcast online, “Kolo et la méningite” was screened on Tuesday October 1 and Thursday October 3, 2024, at the EPP NIANGON-ADJAME and EPP ORSTOM schools, in front of over 160 children. 

A panel discussion held on Friday, October 4, 2024 on the theme: “Dialogues to defeat meningitis: from the community to political decision-makers” brought the activity to a close. The Institut National de Formation des Agents de Santé (INFAS) hosted the panel. Health institutions, researchers, the media, civil society, health agents, health students, health professionals and people living with disabilities took part.

The panel, moderated by Professor Bassirou Bonfoh, Director of Afrique One at CSRS, included Dr. Kouadio Koffi Félix, National Coordinator of Équipes d’Intervention Rapides (EIR) at the Centre des Opérations d'Urgences de Santé Publique (COUSP) of the Institut National d'Hygiène Publique (INHP), Digbeu Zikehouli Luc, Program and Advocacy Manager at Fédération Nationale des Organisations de Santé de Côte d'Ivoire (FENOS-CI), Dr Kanny Diallo, Head of the meningitis research group at CSRS, Dr Aka Bossoma Guylaine, Doctor, Pediatric Department at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Treichville and Alphonse Assohou, member of the Groupement d'insertion des Élèves et Étudiants Handicapés de Côte d'Ivoire (GIEPHCI). 

They discussed the national meningitis surveillance mechanism and the state of research into the disease. They also discussed issues relating to awareness, knowledge and patient management. The panelists highlighted the ignorance and even negligence of parents, which has a negative impact on the care of children suffering from meningitis. 

“Most of the parents we meet know nothing about meningitis. Some equate its symptoms with mystical practices. It's important to raise awareness among parents to save their children's lives,” says pediatrician Dr. AKA Bossoma Guylaine.

As meningitis is a disease that can lead to disability, the focus of the panel was on the care of those suffering from the after-effects of this disease. The experts stressed that this is one of the priority objectives of the WHO's roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030. To achieve this, even cured patients need to be monitored.

Alphonse Assohon, a member of GIEPHCI, urged parents of children with disabilities to send them to school, and to work with state and non-state actors to promote equal opportunities. 
The event ended with exchanges between panelists and participants, as well as screenings of awareness-raising videos. 

“This is the first celebration of this day here in Côte d'Ivoire, and I'm really pleased about it. The discussions we had enabled us to formulate a number of recommendations, including the need to consolidate collaboration between communities, researchers, health authorities and political decision-makers. We hope that this message will be relayed to the greatest possible number of people, those we were unable to reach today, so that we can defeat meningitis by 2030. I'd like to thank the Confederation of Meningitis Organization (CoMO) for its financial support, the Direction Générale de la Santé, the CSRS and all our partner institutions,” says Dr. Kanny Diallo.        

In all, some 300 people, including children and adults, were reached by this activity. INHP, the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), the Fédération Nationale des Organisations de Santé de Côte d'Ivoire (FENOS-CI), the Institut National de Formation des Agents de Santé (INFAS), the Direction de la Santé Communautaire et de la Promotion de la Santé (DSCPC), GIEPHCI, the École Ivoirienne pour les Sourds(ECIS) and the African Science Communication Agency (ASCA) were all partners in this activity.  We look forward to seeing you next year, for an even more beautiful and memorable celebration.