To eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs: Stakeholders tasked to take ownership of fight, mobilise national resources.

The workshop was organised in Yaounde recently by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration of with the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, UCCC, and other partners.

The sensitisation workshop brought together officials of the Ministry of Public Health, representatives of UCCC and local councils as well as several partners. 

Speaking during the workshop, the Coordinator of the Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Georges Nko’Ayissi, explained that the workshop sought to bring in other stakeholders in the fight against NTDs.

Citing the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Nko’Ayissi, noted that NTDs are mainly infectious diseases that occur in underprivileged environments, especially in the heat and humidity of tropical climates with 16 out of 21 NTDs present in Cameroon. 

These included onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, yaws, trachoma, snake bites, buruli ulcer, mycetoma, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, human african trypanosomiasis, leprosy, guinea worm, noma. 

“We realised that the only source of financing for the fight against NTDs for the Ministry of Public Health was not enough to eliminate these diseases. There are aspects about these diseases that require the support of other stakeholders to eliminate them,” Dr Nko’Ayissi told The Guardian Post. 

Revealing that all of Cameroon’s 200 health districts are endemic in at least one NTD, Dr Nko’Ayissi mentioned that government through the Ministry of Public Health is already implementing several actions like mass drug distribution, screening and treatment to contain NTDs. 

In order to eliminate the diseases, the health official said there is need to up hygiene and sanitation, and access to water need to be improved. 

“As a result, it is difficult to eliminate the diseases without handling their causes. Thus, there is need for more education, sensitization,” he mentioned, adding that “for countries looking forward to emergence, NTDs must be eliminated. This is why the international community fixed 2030 to eliminate NTDs”.

UCCC contribution to NTDs fight

One of the participants at the workshop was Fadimatou Halaka, Project manager at United Councils and Cities of Cameroon.

She explained that the UCCC, which is the umbrella association of mayors in Cameroon, has a great role and contribution to make in the fight against NTDs.

“The UCCC…can encourage councils and city councils to invest more in health by using devolved resources from the decentralization programme under the 2019 Law,” Halaka said.

“The councils can also contribute by creating available spaces for distribution of drugs and treated mosquito nets as well as facilitating administrative actions,” she added.

Since 2023, Halaka said the UCCC has entered a partnership with the International Association of French Mayors, AIMF, on water and sanitation. 

“We are about to create a forum to discuss with stakeholders in order to tackle challenges of water and sanitation, waste management…. UCCC is also discussing with CAMWATER to offer technical assistance to councils on getting good drinking water. CAMWATER has signed special contracts with some councils to treat and distribute water,” the UCCC official revealed. 

Act to end NTDs|West interventions

According to officials, NTDs have major impact on poor and vulnerable populations, and contribute to keeping those affected in the vicious circle of poverty.   

In Cameroon, Helen Keller Intl, a long-lasting partner of the Ministry of Public Health in the fight against NTDs, is currently implementing the Act to End NTDs|West Programme. 

The Act to End NTDs|West interventions are focusing on onchocerciasis, trachoma and lymphatic filariasis which covers the 10 regions of the country. 

The USAID-funded Act to End NTDs|West programme support the elimination of five NTDs in Cameroon and Africa in general. In Cameroon, Act to End NTDs|West runs from 2018 to 2026 building on the achievements of the ENVISION project in the continuous efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis through mass drug administration, as well as trachoma and lymphatic filariasis through assessment surveys.