The government of Cameroon has approved a multi-sectoral plan to roll back Malaria in the country, estimated to cost FCFA 380 Billion, from 2024-2028.
Cameroon is among 11 countries most affected by Malaria. According to the National Malaria Control Programme, close to three million cases are reported yearly, and the disease accounts for 28% of hospital consultations and 6.3% deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants. Pregnant women and children below five are the most affected by this scourge.
Jointly outlined by stakeholders from the country’s office of the Prime Minister, the General Delegation for National Security, Parliamentarians, civil society organizations, the private sector, the Ministry of Public Health and 20 other ministries, the multi sectoral plan is expected to facilitate the elimination of Malaria in the country by 2035.
From 2024-2028, all actors in the Malaria elimination plan will each play their role in its implementation.
“The multi sectoral plan is a real guide to multi sectoral actions and resource mobilization developed and validated with the participation and consensus of all stakeholders,” Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Minister of Public Health described the plan.
The 380-billion-plan comes on the heels of the National plan for the Fight Against Malaria, implemented in Cameroon from 2019-2023. This national anti-Malaria plan reportedly reduced Malaria prevalence in Cameroon by 11%.
What will the Multi-sectoral plan achieve ?
The plan which mobilizes all sectors of the society is tailored to reduce Malaria morbidity and mortality rates in the country by 80% within the next five years .
Key objectives of the plan include strengthening the institutional framework for the elimination of malaria, increasing the mobilization of internal resources for the fight against malaria, including a specific budget line for the fight against malaria in sectors and institutions whose activities have an impact on the elimination of the disease, setting up a system which takes into account information on malaria control actions carried out by the various sectors and institutions.
A wholistic fight
The multi-sectoral plan is still to be validated, but some stakeholders have already begun taking the right steps in the right direction.
“ We must understand that Malaria is a real challenge for our country and this fight must be wholistic. We will try to ensure that our Directorate of Norms and Control is involved in this fight because this is an issue of habitat which is conditioned by key factors such as climate, humility and rainfall. If we don’t control these climate factors, the fight will not be successful,” Paul Tchawa, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development said.
He spoke to CRTV WEB shortly after a recent working session organized to seek the commitment of Secretaries General in Cameroon to roll back Malaria. The 18th July meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Health, the National Malaria Control Programme and Impact Santé Afrique.
“Today we have a strategic document that guides every sector and permits them understand the activities that they can carry out to strongly contribute to the reduction of Malaria,” Olivia Ngou, Executive Director of Impact Santé Afrique told CRTV Web.
Gleaning from Success Stories
Cameroon’s drive to eliminate Malaria by 2035 is partly inspired by the success story of the Great Mekong, a sub-region that consists of five countries in South East Asia which successfully reduced Malaria cases by 77% and Malaria deaths by 97% between 2012-2022.
Rwanda and Tanzania are also among countries which are successfully using a multi-sectoral approach to keep the disease in check.
“In these countries, each administration tries to take its responsibilities with regards the fight against malaria. At the moment, these countries have not yet eliminated malaria, but we have other countries like China that have eliminated malaria by setting up a multisectoral framework,” Dr. Hamida Yacoubou, an official from the Division of corporation at the Ministry of Public Health said.
As Cameroon embarks on borrowing a leaf from these countries, it becomes the first country in the West and Central African Sub region to set up a multi sectoral plan to combat malaria. Stakeholders are hopeful that efforts will bear the desired fruits.
According to the National Malaria Control Programme, the country’s prevalence should be less than 1%. Authorities of the structure say the disease has seen a reduction in mortality rates from 18%-6.3% between 2019 -2023, and malaria elimination is possible.
“Everything we are doing boils down to eliminating Malaria. It is time we learn from those who have succeeded. We need to look at their internal mechanisms and how they practically worked to make that happen. It’s a learning experience that will help us incorporate best practices to achieve our expected results,” Joel Ateba, Permanent Secretary of the Malaria Control Programme said.
Financial Needs of the Multi-sectoral Plan
Cameroon’s malaria elimination drive has been chiefly stifled by insufficient funding, and the timid participation of some stakeholders.
The multi-sectoral plan is expected to cost FCFA380 billions, but only about 120billions has been mobilized, leaving a gap of FCFA 260 billion.
According to recommendations of the Abuja declaration in 2001, 15% of the state budget should be allocated for health care, but the country’s Ministry of Public Health reportedly gets slightly over 7% for that purpose.
“We have many challenges, especially funding. Only 40% of funding was mobilized for the last National Strategic Plan for the fight against Malaria. We are looking up to the Ministry of Public Health, parliamentarians and other civil society organizations that are working to ensure our new National Strategic Plan is better funded,” Joel Ateba, the Permanent Secretary said.
To achieve the current goals of the plan, actors are calling on various government Ministries to contribute 1% of the their annual budget to ward off Malaria in the country.
Kathy Neba Sina
