-
strengthening of the mental health institutional and legal framework which is characterized by
the formulation of a strategic national mental health plan covering the period 2017-2021;
institution and actual setting up of the National Mental Health Committee in 2019;
establishment of regional mental health coordination units in all the regions;
mainstreaming of mental health into the general health care system at all levels of the health
delivery pyramid;
strengthening of care for the mentally and neurologically ill at all levels;
reduction of the stigmatization of and discrimination against the mentally ill through
Communication for Behavioural Change, and
training of 649 non-specialist agents in mental health care.
191. A private school called “Pélican” has specialized in the supervision of mentally and intellectually
deficient children.
ix) Special measures taken to protect the rights of individuals suffering from or otherwise
affected by epidemic, endemic, occupational or other ailments, particularly malaria, HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases and other infectious diseases.
192. With regard to the strides made in the area of the fight against malaria, a review of the performance
of the National Anti-Malaria Programme shows that, in conformity with the international commitments
made by the country, the implementation of the 2006-2010 strategic plan has ensured an improvement
in the insecticide-treated net coverage in the country, access to basic diagnostic resources and handling
of malaria cases.
193. Thus, for the prevention of malaria, more than 3,000,000 mosquito nets were distributed free of
charge to the people; this ensured that 78% of the population had mosquito nets. The rate of the use of
mosquito nets among children under five increased from 5% in 2000 to 56% in 2010, and from 8 % in
2000 to 51% in 2010 among pregnant women. The proportion of children who were properly taken
care of within 24 hours increased from 25% in 2000 to 68% 2010.
194. Over the last three years, the health statistics show a significant decline in the incidence of malaria
among the general population and among children under five in particular.
195. The incidence of malaria decreased from 473 cases for every 1,000 inhabitants to 257 for every
1,000 inhabitants between 2016 and 2018. The hospital fatality rate for malaria decreased from 2.03%
in 2016 to 1.89% in 2018.
196. These efforts are borne from the numerous efforts made by the Government and its partners in the
fight against malaria. For example, 14,531,787 long lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) were
distributed free of charge during a mass campaign and routine exercises between 2011 and 2019.
197. Since 2016, more than 4 million children aged between 3 and 59 months have been receiving
treatment every year under the Seasonal Malaria Chemo Prevention (SMC) Programme.
198. More than 10,000,000 Rapid Diagnosis Tests (RDTs) for malaria were procured between 2011 and
2019 were carried out; this includes 5,149,981 in 2019. Consequently, 100% of suspected malaria
cases are receiving biological diagnosis, a situation which ensures an improvement in the provision of
care and the rational management of medicines.
199. More than 36,387,229 malaria treatment doses were procured between 2011 and 2019 for the
management of malaria cases. More than 9,000,000 doses of Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) were
procured for the prevention of malaria among pregnant women.
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