The Boeny region has taken a first step in implementing a new approach to strengthen the prevention and early detection of communicable diseases. This follows the official presentation of data collected through the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and its Flow Monitoring Points (FMP) installed at key entry points in Mahajanga.
As part of an International Organization for Migration (IOM) program, a Mpox vaccination campaign was accompanied by voluntary HIV testing at major entry points in Mahajanga. At the Orange Quay, also known as the dhow quay, 162 out of 168 people vaccinated against Mpox agreed to be tested for HIV. The results identified six new HIV-positive cases. During this operation, two other HIV-positive patients who had been lost to follow-up for a long time were also located.
The operation began on August 20 and is led by the IOM, under the direction of its Chief of Mission, Roger Charles Evina, in collaboration with local authorities. “The city of Mahajanga is recognized regionally and internationally and occupies a strategic position in mobility dynamics and border management in the Boeny region. The choice of Mahajanga is not accidental; it is one of the most frequented places and a major crossroads for migratory flows,” emphasized the IOM Chief of Mission for Madagascar and the Comoros.
At the port of Mahajanga, 149 people, including 70 sailors, were vaccinated against Mpox on August 20, while 131 people agreed to undergo HIV testing, with no cases detected. A vaccination campaign was also organized at the university campus within the preventive medicine department.
“Beyond these figures, this reality underscores the importance of strengthening health surveillance at entry points and implementing monitoring mechanisms adapted to the needs of frontline workers, mobile populations, and host communities,” added an IOM representative.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-25 06:08:47 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/mahajanga-six-nouveaux-cas-de.html