Between 21 and 25 June 2025, the AVENIR project team successfully completed the third round of mass distribution of azithromycin (MDA) in the Agadez and Dosso regions.
This campaign, part of AVENIR’s Phase II REACH project, was preceded by the usual preparatory activities: meetings with local authorities and training for community health workers, to ensure smooth and effective implementation.
During the campaign, several activities were carried out in parallel to ensure strict compliance with protocols, including protocol adherence checks to ensure that procedures (consent forms, drug administration procedures, etc.) were being followed rigorously.
Collaboration
On the recommendation of the Gates Foundation, the AVENIR team has also been exploring potential collaboration with the non-profit organisation Helen Keller International (HKI) and the Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Public Health in Niger.
The aim is to integrate the distribution of vitamin A and albendazole with that of azithromycin in the district of Tchirozérine (Agadez region), in order to pilot an integrated campaign targeting children aged 6 to 59 months.
In the Tchirozérine health district, azithromycin coverage reached 92%, while vitamin A coverage stood at 79%. Albendazole coverage is currently lowest, at 75%.
As teams finalise their field activities, coverage assessments, reverse logistics and reporting of results are ongoing and will continue throughout July.
A provisional coverage rate of 97% is currently estimated for the Agadez region.
Strategic meeting with Bluesquare
On 10 June, the AVENIR project coordination team held a strategic meeting with Bluesquare, an international technology company that supports governments and organisations to make more informed decisions through improved data systems.
Since 2012, Bluesquare has contributed to the digitisation of public health services in more than 30 countries, positively impacting access to healthcare for more than 100 million people. In Niger, Bluesquare works closely with the Ministry of Health and other institutions, notably to strengthen data collection and analysis systems. The meeting, held at AVENIR’s national office, aimed to identify leverage points for optimising project activities, particularly in terms of planning and data management. Bluesquare made recommendationsfor digitising micro-planning, which would streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.
Discussions between AVENIR and Bluesquare are continuing with a view to strengthening the project’s data systems.
Presentation to the REACH sub-group on Mortality Surveillance
On 25 June, the REACH sub-group on Mortality Surveillance held its sixth virtual coordination meeting, bringing together key stakeholders from the REACH Network and other key partners. The session focused on feedback from the field and lessons learned from recent mortality surveys conducted in parallel with mass drug distribution campaigns.
Teams from Niger and Mali presented their respective experiences, highlighting operational lessons learned and challenges encountered during data collection activities related to pregnancy history. These contributions provided valuable insights into how mortality data can directly inform programme strategy and health decision-making at the national level.
A key focus of the discussion was on the non-negotiable aspects of implementing mortality surveys. Participants debated the minimum data standards needed to guide REACH expert panels and government decisions and the meeting concluded with an open discussion on emerging issues, reaffirming the importance of rigorous, locally anchored data and continued collaboration between countries to strengthen mortality surveillance across REACH initiatives.
As always, the AVENIR II team extends grateful thanks to its implementing partners:
