Placed under the theme “Promoting health equity, gender and people’s rights”.
The deputy permanent secretary of the national malaria control program was in front of the press this Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to take stock of the situation of this disease in our country. An exchange with men and women of the media as a prelude to the celebration on April 25 of the international day against this disease which constitutes one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in our country. The introduction of the vaccine since January 22, 2024 in the 42 most affected health districts remains a glimmer of hope in the face of this scourge. One of the objectives for the year 2023 was to reduce mortality and morbidity in our country by 60%.
At the end of 2022, following a household survey, 26% of children were infected with plasmodium. The number of deaths linked to malaria was 9.9% in our health facilities.
Remember that Cameroon is one of the 11 most affected countries in the world. 74% of FOSAs had at least 1 ACT while 8 out of ten regions actually received the distribution of long-acting impregnated mosquito nets (LLINs). The Central and Southern regions are lagging behind because they are under state funding. 69% of children under 5 years old were treated free of charge for cases of simple malaria and 39% for severe cases, which represents an overall rate of 62% of children under 5 years old having received free treatment in the health facilities.
Overall, the results are satisfactory although much remains to be done and the expanded vaccination program has integrated the VAP anti-malaria vaccine into the vaccination schedule. It must be said with the other usual means, that is to say the mosquito nets, the treatment and the vaccine, the campaign to fight the disease, the national program has a bright future ahead of it in terms of response.
Dr Fotso, Deputy Permanent Secretary welcomed the commitment of men and women of the media following public authorities to intensify mass communication around this scourge in order to reduce it to its simplest possible expression, which remains a public health priority in Cameroon.
Clément Noumsi
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