Ten Years of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Senegal: Scale-Up Process, Coverage, Tolerability—Ten Years of SMC in Senegal
1 Department of Parasitology-Mycology/Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 5005, Senegal; (F.T.); (S.D.); (A.M.); (B.F.)
2 Department of Parasitology-Mycology/Medical Biology, UFR des Sciences de la Santé/Iba Der Thiam University, Thiès A967, Senegal; (F.B.S.); (M.P.D.); seckos3 @hotmail.com (A.S.); (J.L.N.)
3 National Malaria Control Programme of Senegal, Dakar 25270, Senegal; (M.N.); (A.B.G.); (S.N.K.); (I.D.); (D.S.)
4 Department of Parasitology-Mycology/Medical Biology, UFR des Sciences de la Santé/Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis 234, Senegal;
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 4 Nov 2025 / Accepted: 15 May 2026 / Published: 29 May 2026
Abstract
Background: Since 2013, Senegal has implemented seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine (SPAQ) to reduce malaria among children under ten years of age. Over the past decade, SMC has become a cornerstone of malaria prevention, contributing to notable reductions in malaria incidence and mortality. Methods: This retrospective descriptive analysis of routine program data summarizes ten years of implementation, scaling up and adverse event monitoring of SMC in Senegal. Data were drawn from annual epidemiological bulletins and feedback reports from the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) between 2013 and 2021. These documents were analyzed to describe key stages of adoption, geographical expansion, and coverage trends. Tolerability and safety were assessed using adverse event (AE) reports documented by the national poison control center, which evaluates causality for suspected SPAQ-related events. Findings: Between 2013 and 2017, only the first daily dose of SPAQ was administered under directly observed treatment (DOT) by community health workers, while parents administered the remaining doses. Since 2019, all three doses have been administered under DOT. Coverage generally met or exceeded the national 95% target, although a temporary disruption occurred during health worker strikes in 2018. AE incidence remained very low (<0.5%), with most events being mild and only 19 serious cases reported over the ten-year period. Conclusion: Senegal’s decade-long SMC program achieved broad geographic expansion, sustained high coverage, and excellent tolerability. These results underscore the effectiveness of community-based delivery and the importance of sustained political and logistical support to consolidate malaria control gains.
Keywords: Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC); Senegal; community health workers; Malaria control
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CITE
Manga, I.A.; Sall, F.B.; Diouf, M.P.; Tairou, F.; Seck, A.; Diop, S.; Mhadji, A.; Ndiop, M.; Gueye, A.B.; Kaly, S.N.; Diallo, I.; Sene, D.; Sow, D.; Faye, B.; Ndiaye, J.L. Ten Years of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Senegal: Scale-Up Process, Coverage, Tolerability—Ten Years of SMC in Senegal. AJPME 2026, 3, 15.
Manga IA, Sall FB, Diouf MP, Tairou F, Seck A, Diop S, Mhadji A, Ndiop M, Gueye AB, Kaly SN, Diallo I, Sene D, Sow D, Faye B, Ndiaye JL. Ten Years of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Senegal: Scale-Up Process, Coverage, Tolerability—Ten Years of SMC in Senegal. AJPME. 2026; 3(2):15.
Manga, Isaac Akhénaton; Sall, Fatimata Bintou; Diouf, Marie Pierre; Tairou, Fassiatou; Seck, Amadou; Diop, Seynabou; Mhadji, Abdoulkarim; Ndiop, Médoune; Gueye, Alioune Badara; Kaly, Stander Nabi; Diallo, Ibrahima; Sene, Doudou; Sow, Doudou; Faye, Babacar; Ndiaye, Jean Louis. 2026. "Ten Years of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Senegal: Scale-Up Process, Coverage, Tolerability—Ten Years of SMC in Senegal." AJPME 3, no. 2: 15.
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