CAMEROON MONTHLY UPDATES, October 2007
17 April 2008
1. The Malaria Press Club
Theme: “The efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of the use of commercial sprays in the fight against malaria in Cameroon”
Malaria Press Club activity for this month had as theme “The efficacy and the cost- effectiveness of the use of commercial sprays in the fight against malaria in Cameroon”. The guest speaker was Dr Pierre ONGOLO-ZOGO, Director of Health Operational Research in the Ministry of Public Health. The key take-home message to over 20 journalists representing 12 different media organs was that malaria is often used as the trade rational for the insecticide sprays which are commonplace for use in homes to fight malaria.
However, a recent study conducted in Cameroon showed that 90% of these sprays contain insecticides to which the Anopheles mosquito, sole vector responsible for transmitting malaria, is resistant. This means therefore that the use of these insecticides, in the majority of cases, for the fight against malaria is of no effect. While households are spending huge sums of money to purchase these insecticides they neglect the purchase and use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) which are by far cheaper when compared to the use of these ineffective insecticides. While a net costs 3000 FCFA (6$) and 6 monthly retreatment of nets costs 500 FCFA(1$), one spray costs 3300 FCFA and lasts for about a week only. It was therefore concluded that there is need to carry out advocacy for the insecticide producers to use other reasons for the existence in the market of their sprays other than malaria and to sensitise the population to use tools whose worth and efficacy have been proven beyond any doubt in the fight against malaria such as ITNs, window and door grills, among others.
During the rest of the month following the monthly MPC session, there has been several broadcast on this issue and other malaria related topics from the various media houses including radio and TV both private and state owned. The CCAM staff have received phone calls and verbal congratulation for the good job in informing the population on vital issues such as this.
2. Draft 1 of the Malaria Technical Guide
During this period, the draft 1 of the malaria technical guide was produced thanks to a workshop help in Buea, South West Province of Cameroon. Participants at the workshop included prominent university lecturers and consultant clinicians, some members of the CCAM workgroups, some key CCAM partners.
The draft 1 is currently being finalised and circulated widely among partners for final input. The malaria technical guide is intended to serve as an advocacy document for CCAM and partners through capacity building of all interested in the fight against malaria. Once finalized it will be reproduced and disseminated widely.
3. Launching of home-based management of malaria in Cameroon
The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) invited key partners among whom which were the CCAM, Plan Cameroon and ACMS to supervise the training of community relays in each of the 10 provinces of Cameroon. CCAM supervised this activity in the Littoral Province. Community relays selected by their respective communities were trained by their health staff to manage malaria in their respective communities.
The nationwide activity is within the implementation by the NMCP, of the Global Fund Round 5 project on “Scaling up Malaria Treatment with Artemisinine Combination Treatment (ACTs)”.
