At a glance
CDC has collaborated with Benin's public health partners since 1999. CDC's work focuses on global health security, including developing Benin's workforce through the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). CDC supports malaria prevention interventions, diagnostics, and case management, and has achieved notable improvements in indicators. CDC also engages in tuberculosis research, measles and rubella studies, and polio-related activities.
Overview
CDC has been collaborating with the government of Benin since 1999 on malaria control projects. CDC assigned a resident advisor to Benin through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) in 2008.
Global health security
Strategic focus
CDC's global health security work in Benin focuses on strengthening the country’s public health systems in the following core area:
Workforce development
Since 2016, CDC supports training scientists through the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). This program strengthens Benin's workforce capacity to identify and stop outbreaks before they spread. The program consists of the Frontline level, and a new Intermediate level established in 2022. Through FETP trainees evaluate surveillance systems, analyze data for different diseases, and assess care and treatment for severe malaria cases among children under 5 years of age.
Key achievements
- CDC has trained over 99 public health staff disease detectives in the FETP Frontline course since the start of the program.
- In 2023, 15 participants from 12 administrative provinces completed the FETP Intermediate course.
Malaria
Strategic focus
Malaria is endemic to Benin and is the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age and of morbidity among adults. CDC began supporting Benin in 2008 through the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). CDC supports malaria prevention and control interventions through the following activities:
- Distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets.
- Indoor residual spraying.
- Preventing malaria in pregnancy.
- Improving diagnostics and case management.
- Increasing access to rapid diagnostic tests, artemisinin-based combination therapies, and intermittent preventive treatment in public health facilities and private clinics.
Key achievements
Over the years, Benin has shown significant improvements in several key malaria indicators. More people own and use mosquito nets, and more pregnant women get treatment for malaria prevention. Through PMI, CDC has supported:
- Distribution of nearly 11 million mosquito nets since 2008.
- Delivery of more than 8 million doses of preventive treatment in pregnancy.
- Distribution of more than 20 million rapid diagnostics tests and nearly 20 million fast-acting malaria medicines.
Tuberculosis research
Through the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium, CDC works with the National Referral University Hospital to conduct clinical trials to assesses the efficacy and safety of several drug-sensitive tuberculosis regimens.
Measles and rubella
CDC serves as a Global Specialized Laboratory in the WHO Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network. CDC provides reagents and supplies through the IRR, training and reference testing.