AIRE Project

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of child mortality in West Africa.
Late diagnosis of respiratory distress leads to severe and preventable complications.
The pulse oximeter is a simple and effective technology to improve the detection of critical cases.

The AIRE project (Improving the Identification of Respiratory Distress in Children) aims to systematically integrate pulse oximeters into pediatric consultations to improve the diagnosis of children in respiratory distress.

Funded by Unitaid, this initiative is implemented by ALIMA, Terres des Hommes, Solthis, and INSERM in four West African countries: Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Humanitarian context and challenge

Late diagnosis puts lives at risk

Pneumonia and its respiratory complications pose a significant threat to children under five. However:

The lack of suitable equipment prevents early detection of respiratory distress.
Oxygen, an essential treatment, remains difficult to access in many healthcare facilities.
Healthcare workers often lack the necessary tools and training.

💡 Why does this matter?

Every year, thousands of children die because of a lack of rapid and accurate diagnosis.

Pulse oximeters help identify children in respiratory distress and adapt their treatment.

Better access to oxygen in hospitals can significantly reduce child mortality.

📌 The AIRE project seeks to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of pulse oximeters for large-scale implementation.

➡️ To address these challenges, ALIMA and its partners are deploying concrete solutions to save more children.

ALIMA’s action

💡How does ALIMA integrate pulse oximeters into pediatric consultations?

The AIRE project is based on a multisectoral approach, combining medical staff training, equipment provision, and improvement to the healthcare process.

🔹 Training and community awareness

Community health workers are educated to identify the signs of respiratory distress.
Parents are made aware of the importance of seeking early medical care when severe symptoms appear.

🔹 Strengthening health centers

Training of healthcare professionals in the use of pulse oximeters.
Providing essential medicines and supplies to improve patient care.
Joint supervision of activities by health districts and project teams.

📌 Over 200 health centers are now equipped with pulse oximeters, allowing for better detection of severe cases.

🔹 Improving hospital infrastructure

8 hospitals are equipped with oxygen extractors to treat referred children.
Tracking the number of children transferred and cared for in hospitals.
Data analysis to measure the impact of the project and optimize interventions.

📌 Over 850 healthcare workers have been trained to use pulse oximeters and manage respiratory distress.

Advocacy for widespread adoption

Integrating pulse oximeters into public health policies

ALIMA and its partners have organized several events to present the results of the AIRE project and advocate for its implementation:

📅 Regional conference in Dakar in 2023

Goal: to make pulse oximeters and access to oxygen a public health priority in sub-Saharan Africa.
Participants :
- Health ministry representatives from 8 West African countries.
- Technical and financial partners (WHO, UNICEF, United Nations, NGOs, etc.).