Cameroon: seasonal malaria prevention for children

Who should expect the campaign?

In Cameroon’s North and Far North Regions, caregivers of children aged 3–59 months should look out for local announcements and trained teams visiting homes during seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaigns. This is the eligible age band, not every child under five. Confirm your health district’s eligibility and current dates locally.

SMC, called CPS in French, runs in repeated monthly rounds during the rainy-season transmission period. It is not a single yearly dose. PNLP describes door-to-door delivery; the number and dates of rounds follow the current campaign plan.

What SPAQ means

SPAQ combines sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP) with amodiaquine (AQ). Each round uses a three-day course: the trained worker provides the first-day treatment and explains how the caregiver should give the remaining amodiaquine doses. Use only the child’s supplied, age-appropriate course and the worker’s instructions.

Before the team gives medicine

Tell the team about fever or other illness, any previous medicine allergy, cotrimoxazole use and recent antimalarial treatment. These can change eligibility. A sick child may need assessment and malaria treatment rather than routine prevention. Continue net use and routine health visits between rounds.