Prof. Rose Leke's welcome address at CCAM Magazine Launch
11 July 2008
3 July 2008, The Yaounde Hilton Hotel
Speech delivered on the occasion of the Launching of the CCAM Newsletter, “About Malaria”
Prof. Rose Gana Fomban Leke
Executive Director, CCAM
The Minister of Public Health
And all other Ministers and government officials represented,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps here present,
Dignitaries and the Clergy,
Invited guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
All members of the Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria, CCAM
I heartily welcome all of you here this afternoon on the occasion of the launching of our maiden Newsletter, christened “About Malaria”. It is a brand new product in the market that reflects the fruits of several months of hard work and devotedness. The publication is not for a commercial purpose and should mainly serve as a veritable medium to inform and educate the masses on malaria control and prevention, and most importantly to get them involved in the fight against malaria.
This venture could not have been successful without the combined force of some key partners and persons. Credit goes to the Cameroon Media Against Malaria (CAMAM), and the efficient and committed editorial team set up to work on the CCAM Newsletter. We intend to publish this magazine twice a year.
The CCAM family is particularly glad to see its own brainchild come of age. In just about a year, CAMAM, the media wing of CCAM, has proved its worth in its participation in the production of this beautiful magazine as well as other activities of CCAM. It is important to note that CAMAM is a powerful media arm of CCAM which was created in recognition of the role the media should play in malaria advocacy. We thank its president, Mr Wain Paul Ngam, and his team for the excellent job.
We also seize this opportunity to thank the staff, all the workgroup leaders and their team members, and partner organisations of CCAM, for their relentless efforts and priceless contribution to the success of all our activities. We can only encourage them to redouble their effort, and to continue with the good work they are doing.
We deeply appreciate the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Public Health who accepted to personally play the role of Paramount Chief Launcher for this magazine. Thank you very much, Mr Minister.
We also appreciate and value the collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and its affiliated organs such as the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and a host of others ( as well as other partners).
We are really glad to have you all here: government officials, members of the Civil Society Organisations, scientists, advocates, the media and the public, who have come from far and wide to witness this grand launch. Thanks for honouring our invitation. Your presence is a clear indication that we are united in this battle against malaria.
Like the town crier of old, the Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria is standing on the hill to sound a trumpet of war against malaria in Cameroon. We are drumming a strong message to the authorities to adopt appropriate policies and effect change for a malaria-free Cameroon. We are drawing the attention of the population to adopt appropriate behaviour, above all to use life-saving services to prevent and treat malaria promptly. Sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets every night and starting treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms will drastically reduce the malaria burden in our country if adopted as behaviour by each and everyone. The use of Intermittent Preventive treatment (IPT), by pregnant women is a major strategy to reduce malaria burden in pregnant women and in newborn babies.
The journey has not been an easy one for CCAM. We have crossed the oceans and soared the skies all in bid to make this dream come true. Created in September 2006 and going operational in January 2007, CCAM has fought a great fight and realised a dream of its existence. A dream which would have not come true were it not for the support of GlaxoSmithKline through Malaria Consortium.
Excellences, Le voyage de notre coalition, CCAM, n’est pas facile. Nous avons traversé un chemin difficile pour réaliser notre rêve. La CCAM est créée en septembre 2006, mais elle n’a été opérationnelle qu’en janvier 2007. Ce rêve n’aura jamais été réalisé sans le soutien de GlaxoSmithKline par l’intermédiaire du Malaria Consortium qui joue un rôle clé dans la lutte contre le paludisme dans le monde.
Grâce à ce projet, la Cameroun Media Against Malaria (CAMAM) a vu le jour dans les dix provinces du Cameroun. Un centre d’information sur le paludisme, le Sida et la Tuberculose est crée dans nos bureaux à Bastos. Toujours dans le souci d’une large sensibilisation, la Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria a eu des séances de travail avec les parlementaires camerounais sur la lutte, la prévention et le traitement du paludisme. Nous procédons aussi au renforcement des capacités par les ateliers de formation que nous organisons avec nos différents partenaires.
Malaria Consortium as we all know is a leading player in the fight against malaria in the world today. Their contribution to the fight against malaria in Africa includes, as just mentioned above, the creation of the Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria. We would like to seize this opportunity to inform you that Malaria Consortium which is based in London, will in the very near future, have a branch in Cameroon, hosted by the Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria, CCAM. This is great news for us all since their presence in Cameroon will boost the fight against malaria in our country.
It is my singular pleasure to wish you all a happy stay with us this afternoon. Together let’s fight against malaria. As we speak a child below five has just died of malaria for a child dies every 30 seconds from this disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The time to act is now, for a stitch in time saves nine.
Thank you.
