CAMEROON MONTHLY UPDATES, August 2007
30 August 2007
1. European Parliamentary Forum (EPF) Malaria Study Tour, Cameroon
During the month of August, the major action focused on the preparation and the conduct of the first-ever EPF study tour on malaria. The CCAM was requested by the MC to host the study tour. Eventhough the timing was tight for preparation; CCAM could not resist seizing this opportunity to be the first to host such a tour.
The aim of the tour was to get European parliamentarians acquainted with the malaria burden and efforts to fight it in a country like Cameroon. This to enable them, back home, to carryout more effective advocacy in the fight against malaria for a malaria-free world.
Three parliamentarians from Germany, Lithuania and Spain and a Youth Political Leader as well as two staff from the EPF participated in the Malaria study tour in Cameroon. During their visit which lasted from August 24 – Sept 1, 2007, they had a meeting with the MOH who gave them a bird’s eye view of the malaria programme in Cameroon and Cameroon’s engagement in the fight against malaria both at the national and international levels. He highlighted the support Cameroon has received so far from the GF to fight malaria in Cameroon with two rounds of funding. HIPC Initiative funds are also supporting the programme.
A meeting with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and some researchers pointed out malaria control activities and research activities, which contribute to the fight against malaria in Cameroon. Through the presentations the visitors were able to have more insight into the efforts by the GOC on the fight against malaria. With the 2nd generation National Malaria Strategic Plan and the putting in place of the NMCP, Cameroon is poised and engaged to fight malaria while implementing the two rounds of projects funded by the GF. The two GF projects are scaling up malaria prevention by distributing ITNs free of charge to U-5 children and conducting home visits to provide information and inspect proper use of ITNs on one hand, and the second is supporting scaling of malaria treatment using the Artemisinine Combination Therapy (ATC) both at health facilities and home-based treatment kits. Furthermore, HIPC Initiative funds have also contributed in the fight against malaria by providing ITNs which are distributed free of charge to pregnant women.
Later meetings with various ministries contributing to the fight against malaria highlighted their roles and responsibilities in malaria control in Cameroon. An audience with the Minister of Finance pointed out administrative bottlenecks that prevent the malaria control tools, such as ITNs and insecticides for retreatment from reaching the population. Recognising the gravity of malaria in Cameroon, he immediately personally engaged to address the issues.
A meeting with some parliamentarians at the Cameroon House of Parliament gave birth to a Cameroon Malaria Parliamentary Workgroup on malaria. Enthusiastic Cameroonian parliamentarians pledged to focus on the malaria issues both at the legislative as well as the implementation levels; recognising malaria as a principal killer disease in Cameroon. CCAM and the National Malaria Control Program will support them.
Field visits included the health district of Akonolinga in the Centre and Bali in the Northwest Provinces, respectively. The district medical officers presented their respective health districts to the visitors highlighting their efforts in the fight against malaria. They also pointed out major challenges some of which are: shortage of health staff, prolonged stock ruptures of both ITNs and insecticide for re-impregnation and in some situations of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine. Community participation was highlighted in community visits where the population, especially in the village of Etol at the Akonolinga Health District, demonstrated their mastery of the issue and their engagement in the fight against malaria and other U-5 killer diseases. Home visits are conducted in both localities especially in homes with the target population of U-5 children and pregnant women and demonstrations on home visits were presented to the visitors.
A press conference at the end of their visit gave the parliamentarians the opportunity to provide feedback to the general Cameroon public. They recognized efforts by the government of Cameroon in the fight against malaria and also community engagement but deplored administrative bottlenecks, which prevent services from effectively reaching the population in a timely manner.
At the end of this visit some major achievements were registered as follows:
· The Cameroon Malaria Parliamentary Work Group was formed· Awareness raised among the authorities and the general population on the importance of the fight against malaria and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
· Useful contacts made for CCAM both at the central and the grassroots levels
· CCAM received an awful lot of visibility among the Cameroonian authorities and the general public
2. Feedback Lusaka
The European Parliamentary Malaria Study Tour was another opportunity to provide feedback on the Malaria HIV Advocacy workshop that took place last May in Lusaka. They were briefed on the MAMA Movement and were also given the Lusaka statement as well as the G8 Press Release by MAMA Movement.
3. Work Group Activities
During this month, as indicated above, the focus was on the EPF Malaria Study Tour. However, some workgroup activities were done. The monthly Malaria Press Club activity took place and the topic was “Malaria and Pregnancy”. The eminent Professors Rose and Robert Leke were spokespersons. They presented to the journalists the risk malaria poses to the pregnant woman and her baby, with complications such as anaemia, abortion, premature delivery, still birth, small for dates, and also the effects of co-infection of malaria and HIV. It was highlighted that malaria in pregnancy must be treated as severe malaria in hospital.
From the research activities of Prof Rose Leke, it was found that malaria parasites have more affinity to the pregnant women’s placenta to the extent that during pregnancy, even in the absence of peripheral parasiteamia, the placenta is found to have malaria parasite. All above justify the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria in pregnancy, which is a national policy in Cameroon. All pregnant women must be protected from malaria by sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets. The duo proved to be a formidable combination of clinical and research experiences that are complementary. The 10 journalists present had issues clarified through a question-and-answer session. The interest of these was manifested visibly as they had ample information to transmit to their audience in favour of malaria control vis-à-vis pregnant women.
Other workgroup activities include visits to partners in search of documentation for the Resource Centre, working session with the health district of Ayos to support proper data management in the district and development of draft for the malaria practical guide. In the absence of funds some of these activities have been slowed down.
B. Forthcoming Events
· Development of a malaria technical guide as basic malaria advocacy tool for Cameroon in progress
· Malaria Press Club on the topic: “Malaria Prevention in Cameroon” with Dr Okalla/Dr Fondjo
· Meetings of CCAM workgroups to develop proposals for identified objectives. Proceed with activities for the development of a Resource Centre for malaria information
