The OPT-SMC Team meets in Lomé to wrap up its project findings

The OPT-SMC project met for the final time in Lomé, Togo to discuss the final laps of the project. All implementing countries were in attendance at the meeting. The OPT-SMC meeting was opened by Dr. Atekpe, Director of the NMP of Togo who welcomed everyone to Togo and handed over to Prof. Jean-Louis Ndiaye to present the principal results of the OPT-SMC project after a round of introductions by everyone in the room.

All countries presented the progress and results of their projects and discussed how they would sustain the results of the project beyond the end of the project. The new OPT-MVAC project was also presented to countries. They were asked how they would engage with their vaccine counterparts to fully engage in the OPT-MVAC project.

Beyond the results gathered from the projects themselves, NMPs representatives testified that the OPT-SMC project has helped them improve upon their research, monitoring capabilities. The project has also helped them gather better evidence on the burden of malaria among young children which will be useful for outreach to potential donors in the future.