Mass malaria treatment in South Sudan significantly reduces cases

Multiple rounds to protect children’s health

During malaria peaks between May 2023 and October 2024, MSF launched seven rounds of the MDA campaign in the village of Mayen Abun to children aged 3 months to 15 years old, with the goal of strengthening immunity and reducing malaria cases among young children.

By the end of October 2024, the team reached a total of 18,700 children with these preventive measures.

“If we compare before and after MSF started bringing malaria drugs, there is a big difference,” says Arual Manyok. “All the children who received the drugs haven’t had malaria again. It is only the children who did not receive them who are getting sick.”

In July 2024, South Sudanese authorities introduced the R21 malaria vaccine for existing malaria patients in high-burden areas such as Twic County, with MSF supporting the Ministry of Health to roll out the vaccine for children aged 5 to 24 months old. 

Malaria cases dropped significantly 

As a result of the preventive measures put in place, MSF recorded a drop in malaria cases: from 79 percent between May to October in 2022, to 70 percent in the same period in 2024. 

“The decrease in malaria cases and severe admissions in 2024 clearly shows that malaria preventive measures like MDA prevention rounds or the malaria vaccine response by the Ministry of Health can effectively provide protection and interrupt the disease cycle in our target pediatric population,” says Dr. Mohamed Bashir, MSF project medical referent in Twic.

Community involvement contributes to success

The results of MSF’s malaria prevention intervention were made possible by the active involvement of the community. MSF worked with health promotion teams, local volunteers, and leaders to raise awareness of malaria prevention and ensure that the most vulnerable children are protected.

Despite the clear, positive results of proactive prevention interventions in Twic County, lack of preparedness remains a concern in several regions of the country. Recurrent malaria outbreaks continue to occur in overcrowded health facilities across South Sudan.

“Health organizations should invest in more robust prevention and emergency response,” says Dr. Bashir. “The success we’ve seen in Mayen Abun shows that malaria is preventable with the right tools.”