Country profiles

The countries of the meningitis belt are among the poorest countries in the world

These countries are also among the least well-served in terms of immunization and health care services. Because poverty and limited access to health services exacerbate the risk of meningitis epidemics and the probability of death or disability from the disease, interventions that eliminate meningitis A epidemics are urgently needed in these settings. Eliminating meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa will help put the region on a more equitable footing by:

• Improving routine immunization and strengthening other programs that target
  vulnerable populations (for instance, by eliminating annual disruption to health care and other systems from epidemics).
• Reducing both endemic meningococcal disease and the risk of meningitis epidemics to levels much closer to those experienced in developed countries.
  

The proposed strategy will also achieve greater equity within the region. For example, because the MenA conjugate vaccine introduction strategy targets populations at greatest risk from epidemic meningitis, particularly hard-to-reach populations, the mass campaign approach will reach age groups that are not included in routine services.

Disability of a family member after meningitis often rapidly impoverishes the family, with the consequence that children cannot continue attending school, which often affects girls first. Preventing meningitis and thus preventing a rapid decrease in families’ socioeconomic status can help all children, including girls, maintain school attendance.

To learn more about the countries where the MenA vaccine will be introduced, go to the country profiles for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Photo: Monique Berlier.