BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:Despite large-scale measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaigns in West Africa, measles outbreaks persist, raising concerns about campaign effectiveness, coverage, and underlying determinants. This study assesses the impact of MR follow-up campaigns in 12 of 17 West African countries (2024-2025) and examines the factors contributing to post-campaign outbreaks. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of MR campaigns on measles transmission, identify the characteristics of post-campaign outbreaks, and propose strategies to improve campaign effectiveness and accelerate progress toward measles elimination in West Africa. METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional and ecological analytical study to examine spatial and temporal variations based on measles surveillance data from 2024 to 2025, post-campaign coverage surveys (PCCS), district-level outbreak reports, and administrative coverage reports. Trends in measles cases before and after the MMR campaigns were assessed, along with demographic characteristics and spatial analyses of confirmed cases. RESULTS:In 2024, 70.5% (12/17) of countries conducted measles vaccination campaigns, but measles outbreaks increased in 2025 (64 districts in 2024 versus 383 in 2025). Children under five remained the most affected (54%), with 85% of cases being either unvaccinated (57%) or of unknown status (28%). Administrative coverage exceeded 95% in most countries, but measles PCCS revealed gaps, with only Senegal (93%) and Guinea-Bissau (94%) achieving high verified coverage. No country achieved 95% national MPCC. CONCLUSIONS:Suboptimal campaign quality, gaps in immunity beyond target age groups, and unreliable administrative data contributed to the persistence of outbreaks. Recommendations include extending Measles vaccination campaigns to older children (5-14 years), improving preparedness by drawing on experiences from other programs such as polio, standardizing PCCS data survey and analysis methodologies across all countries, and integrating Measles vaccination campaigns with other services such as nutrition.
This research explores the perceptions of lecturers at the Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL) in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, regarding individual support for learners in a digital learning context. Faced with major structural challenges, such as a surge in student numbers and limited infrastructure, the study seeks to understand how lecturers conceptualise, implement and perceive the effectiveness of this personalised digital support. A qualitative methodology, based on semi-structured interviews with three lecturers from different disciplines and on thematic content analysis, was employed. The findings are organised around three main themes. Firstly, lecturers view digitalised individual support as a profound transformation of their teaching practice, shifting from transmissive methods to active and inclusive approaches, and redefining their role as that of a facilitator. Secondly, they perceive its contribution as highly positive, noting improved student engagement, more effective feedback and the development of digital skills, thanks to a resilient hybrid pedagogy. Thirdly, major obstacles persist, notably critical infrastructure constraints (power cuts, poor connectivity) and a lack of training for both teachers and students. The study concludes that whilst the potential of individualised digital support is widely recognised and experienced by teachers, its optimal implementation is hampered by systemic barriers. It therefore calls for a strengthened institutional approach, combining investment in infrastructure, tailored training programmes and the promotion of resilient teaching strategies, in order to realise the promise of inclusive, high-quality digital education in resource-constrained contexts. Keywords: Individualised support, digital education, teachers’ perceptions. Received Date: June 19, 2026 Accepted Date: July 10, 2026 Published Date: August 01, 2026 Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/845
Abstract The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces significant volcanic hazards from Nyiragongo volcano, yet these dangers are largely overlooked in urban planning and land use strategies. Effective evacuation plans for potential volcanic disasters depend on a thorough understanding of the geospatial characteristics of the evacuation environment, which can change over time. This study assesses risks associated with volcanic hazards in Goma, focusing on exposure to lava flows and the dangers of CO2-rich gas emission areas known locally as Mazuku. Using QGIS and Q-LavHA tools, mapping and simulations were conducted based on historical eruption data from 1977, 2002, and 2021 to model lava flow paths towards Goma from eight eruption vents. The findings indicate that over half of Goma is at high risk from volcanic hazards, particularly in areas where the majority of the population and critical infrastructure are located. To enhance community resilience in line with the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), this paper proposes evacuation scenarios and mitigation strategies based on a detailed hazard and exposure assessment. The result of this study shows that eleven neighborhoods in the east of Goma city are located in the potential lava flow corridor and that roads, lake ports and part of the airport are potentially exposed to volcanic hazards. This study contributes to global methodologies for assessing volcanic hazard exposure in data poor regions. In addition, the proposed geospatial environment model is crucial for developing agent-based simulation studies to improve evacuation effectiveness during volcanic events.
Background: The 2025 EPI Managers’ Meeting for West African countries in Guinea was a critical platform for EPI managers to make an in-depth analysis of immunization programmes. We present a structured analysis of immunization status in West Africa using a WHO Health System model to move beyond descriptive reporting toward systemic analysis for actionable solutions. Methods: The meeting convened EPI managers from 14 of the 17 West African countries and partners supporting the immunization program. Country and regional presentations, immunization and surveillance data and meeting discussions were analysed through a framework identifying (1) core problems, (2) systemic barriers using WHO health systems building blocks and (3) actionable recommendations or call for action. Results: Analysis revealed stagnating immunization coverage. Recovery from COVID-19 pandemic disruptions remained limited, with persistent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). Among the five Immunization Agenda 2030 objectives assessed, only Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) elimination was on track. Four critical challenges emerged: (1) Routine immunization stagnation with DTP3 median coverage of 76%. This was associated with challenges related to poor data quality, weak implementation of innovative vaccination strategies and donor dependency, as 88.2% of countries financed less than 50% of routine vaccine costs domestically. (2) Sub-optimal progress in Big Catch-Up (BCU) implementation in some countries, revealing poor health system resilience. (3) Inability to sustain high coverage for new vaccine introductions despite significant progress, highlighting demand and service delivery gaps. (4) Persistent VPD outbreaks with geographical expansion and the resurgence of diphtheria epidemics since 2023. Conclusions: Persistent immunization challenges in West Africa appear to reflect interconnected systemic challenges, suggesting the need for a fundamental shift toward subnational strategies, integration of immunization services within primary health care (PHC) and improved data quality. Sustainable financing of the national EPI and acceleration of local vaccine manufacturing is essential to achieve immunization sovereignty in West Africa. Country Call for Action provides strategic guidance to reverse the trend toward the Immunization Agenda 2030 targets.
Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for nearly a quarter of global deaths from this disease. Its high incidence is due to the high prevalence of HIV, the persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, and inadequate screening and treatment systems. Prophylactic HPV vaccines, notably Cervarix® (bivalent) and Gardasil 9® (nonavalent), have profoundly transformed primary prevention of cervical cancer. Cervarix® targets genotypes 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers, while Gardasil 9® offers broad coverage against nine oncogenic HPV types, preventing up to 90% of invasive cancers. Major clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy exceeding 90% against precancerous lesions, even after a single dose. However, the implementation of vaccination programs in sub-Saharan Africa remains hampered by logistical, economic, and socio-cultural constraints. Integrating vaccination into school curricula, strengthening cold chains, and combating misinformation are essential levers for increasing vaccination coverage. A coordinated strategy between governments, international partners, and local communities is indispensable to achieving the WHO's goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.
