AIRE Project: Lessons from an Innovation Published in a Special Issue of BMJ Global Health
The AIRE project (2019–2023), implemented by Solthis in Niger in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, and as part of a consortium in the other beneficiary countries with ALIMA, the Terre des hommes Foundation, and Inserm, is now the focus of a special issue of BMJ Global Health, accompanied by an editorial co-authored by Dr. Franck Lamontagne, Medical Director of Solthis.
The project’s objective was to improve the identification of children suffering from respiratory distress through the introduction of pulse oximeters in primary health centers. This simple tool makes it possible to quickly identify the most seriously ill children so they can be referred for appropriate care.
The editorial highlights three major findings:
- the feasibility and acceptability of pulse oximetry in primary-level health centers, enabling better identification of at-risk children;
- the integration of the tool into the national guidelines of participating countries, illustrating its potential to sustainably strengthen health policies;
- the success of Solthis’s advocacy efforts in Niger, which contributed to the inclusion of pulse oximetry in Global Fund financing mobilized during the COVID-19 pandemic, paving the way for its larger-scale deployment.
The special issue also highlights the importance of partnerships between field-level actors, research institutions, and health authorities in transforming innovation into sustainable changes that benefit children.
Read Dr. Franck Lamontagne’s editorial, the special issue of BMJ Global Health, and the policy brief to learn about all the lessons learned from the AIRE project.