Robert Pirklossou and Jeanette Kounda are among more than 12,000 community health workers who navigated flooded roads, slippery paths, and swollen rivers—while facing dangers such as hippopotamuses—to administer antimalarial medication to millions of children in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon.
“Some days, we’d wade through chest-deep water just to reach a single family,” said Robert. “But we knew that every child we treated could mean the difference between life and death.”
Malaria is a major health risk in Cameroon’s North and Far North regions, where transmission rises sharply during the rainy season, which runs from June to October. Increased rainfall creates stagnant water that serves as breeding sites for Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Climate factors such as higher humidity and temperature further support mosquito survival and parasite development, contributing to a surge in cases during this period.
“When the heavy rains swell the lake separating their village from mine, parents in Ildong-Souaye worry about how their children will receive antimalarial medication,” said Jeanette.
To address this risk, Jhpiego, with funding from GiveWell and other donors, supported the Ministry of Public Health’s seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in 2025. Each year, trained health workers and community mobilizers go door to door to administer a preventive antimalarial combination—sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine (SPAQ)—to children ages 3 to 59 months. The treatment is given monthly for four or five cycles, depending on local transmission patterns, ensuring protective drug levels throughout the peak season.
Reaching these children often requires extraordinary effort. Difficult terrain, including rivers, flooded areas, and isolated villages, means health workers must travel by motorcycle, on foot, or by canoe to ensure no child is missed. Along the way, they not only administer preventive medicine but also educate families about malaria prevention.
Their determination is critical. Without prompt treatment, malaria can rapidly progress from a mild illness to a severe, life-threatening disease, especially in young children. Untreated Plasmodium falciparum malaria can lead to severe anemia, cerebral malaria (marked by confusion, convulsions, or coma), breathing difficulties, organ failure, and death within 24 to 48 hours in the most serious cases.
For children diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria, treatment typically involves artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), which is highly effective when taken correctly and on time. In Cameroon, treatment for children under five is provided free of charge in public health facilities, in line with national policy. Preventive efforts such as SMC campaigns further strengthen malaria control and improve child survival.
Robert, Jeanette, and thousands of other community workers have been trained by Jhpiego as mobilizers, distributors, and supervisors, enabling them to overcome every obstacle between them and a child in need. In 2025, their efforts reached more than two million children in the North and Far North regions, contributing to a significant reduction in malaria cases. This achievement was made possible by 12,237 distributors, 1,245 community supervisors, 524 area supervisors, and 138 district supervisors working across both regions. Distribution took place door to door and at fixed posts in health facilities to maximize coverage.
“Robert and Jeanette are heroes,” said one grateful parent, Diradi Martine. “Their selflessness, determination, and expertise have given us hope for a healthier future.”
Through their efforts, Robert and Jeanette have inspired others to join the fight against malaria, demonstrating the power of community-driven health care. In Souaye village, the traditional ruler endorsed the campaign by providing a canoe—the only means of reaching some families—so that every child could receive treatment.
Their work underscores a simple but powerful truth: even in the most challenging conditions, dedicated community health workers can save lives at scale. With sustained support, these efforts can continue to protect millions of children and bring Cameroon closer to a future free from malaria.
