INTEGRATION project close-up meeting
The INTEGRATION project aimed at reducing the burden of malaria during pregnancy in sub-Saharan African countries. Implemented in Burkina Faso and Mali, the project focused on increasing the coverage and adherence to Intermittent Preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) among pregnant women. This research compared the effectiveness of IPTp-SP administered during scheduled health facility visits to that provided through the seasonal malaria chemoprevention channel.
From 13 to 14 February 2025, the INTEGRATION Consortium convened its Close-up Meeting, both in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and virtually. This gathering brought together representatives from all participating countries, including Burkina Faso (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique – CNRST / Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé – IRSS), France (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – IRD), Mali (University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako – USTTB), Italy (R-Evolution Worldwide Impresa Sociale) and the United Kingdom (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine – LSTM). The meeting also included key stakeholders such as representatives from National Malaria Control Programmes and Maternal and Reproductive Health.
The project coordinator, Prof. Kassoum Kayentao from USTTB, opened the meeting by outlining its goals and objectives. Following this, consortium partners shared insights into the activities and progress made over the past four years across the various work packages of the grant: management, training and capacity development, study implementation and evaluation surveys, acceptability, feasibility, and economics studies, and communication and dissemination.
The contributions from stakeholders were essential in shaping the final phases of the project and refining strategies for translating research findings into effective health policies and updated guidelines.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Kayentao, emphasising the collaborative efforts made and the potential impact of the INTEGRATION project in improving maternal health and combating malaria in pregnancy.