Gov’t, USAID review cooperation.

The relationship was brought under review during an audience granted Country Representative of USAID Cameroon, Philippe Accilien, and his delegation by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie. The meeting took place Friday January 19 at the minister’s cabinet.

Speaking during the audience, the Director of Health at USAID Cameroon, José Tchofa, gave an update on USAID's recent health projects in Cameroon.

José Tchofa noted that since USAID's establishment in Cameroon, the agency has supported the government each year with over 60 billion FCFA, in several areas including health and humanitarian assistance, which account for 50 to 60% of this funding. 

Talking about the fight against malaria, the US Malaria Program, PMI, is involved in a number of areas, including support for the health sector strategy, response to certain emergencies, and humanitarian assistance.

The PMI, he stated, was established in Cameroon in 2018 and till date, the US government has contributed more than 81 billion FCFA in bilateral funds in the fight against malaria. 

The agency is also in the process of localising more projects. One of the agency's objectives is to grant 25% of its funding directly to local partners for the implementation of activities by 2025. And by 2030, 50% of projects supported by the agency will be implemented or piloted by country organizations.

Looking ahead, José Tchofa said USAID is planning three new reproductive health projects for the next 5 years during which 1.2 billion a year will be injected into the “Expand PF” project.

This, he said, is in support of family planning and sexual and reproductive health, with 720 million a year to help Cameroon achieve its 2030 family planning goals, focusing on young people and women in underserved urban and peri-urban areas. 

The organisation, it was reported, equally has plans inject several millions to strengthen advocacy, policies and strategic data for better targeted support in sexual and reproductive health; support the supply chain for contraceptives and reproductive health products, with 300 million FCFA per year to strengthen contraceptive procurement, logistics information management, and other related support.

Arrival of Global Coordinator Malaria Programme announced

Taking the floor, Philippe Accilien, announced the visit of the Global Coordinator of the U.S Malaria Programme, PMI, Dr David Walton, in the month of March during which he will be taking part in a conference to discuss the effects of high-impact malaria on countries. The conference will be held in Yaounde from March 4 to 7, 2024.

According to a tentative programme given, Dr David Walton’s visit will include a tour of the SEMBE I project, a system set up to eliminate the burden of malaria through sustained commitment. 

This is a project to support the fight against malaria in the Far North Region in the towns of Maroua and Mokolo which is implemented by the Association Camerounaise de Marketing Social, ACMS, for a period of five years. The project is funded to the tune of 18 billion FCFA. 

Enter Health Minister 

Minister Manaouda on his part expressed his gratitude as well as that of the government to the US Government for their collaboration, assistance and deployment.

He also stressed on the need to coordinate all their activities and/or funding in the field. this, he said is to help capture activities at the central level, not only to better expedite them, but also to ensure their effective and efficient implementation.

Regarding the HIV component also handled by the agency, the member of government pleaded for the availability of inputs, in particular screening tests, which are currently out of stock in the country.

He concluded by announcing his availability ahead of the coming of Dr David Walton to the country.