North Region: US-sponsored 21 billion FCFA project to fight malaria launched.

It was launched on July 2 in Yaounde.  

Funded by the US President’s Malaria Initiative, PMI, through the US Agency for International Development, USAID, the project will be co-implemented by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and a consortium of five organisations.

The consortium comprises Jhpiego, Reach Out Cameroon, ROC; Pentecostal Advocates for Socio-Economic Development, PENASED; Center for Infectious Disease Research, CRID; and eHealth Africa Foundation.  

Speaking at the ceremony, the US Ambassador said the Biden administration is committed to significantly reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality in Cameroon, by improving the capacity of the National Malaria Control Programme and other local entities to lead the prevention, control, and elimination of malaria.

“The US government is extremely dedicated to helping lower the level of malaria in the North and Far North Regions, and across Cameroon. The SEMBE II project builds on the work that we have already been doing with the Ministry of Public Health and partners, throughout the country,” he said.

“We are also looking to try to change people’s behaviour to make sure they use bed nets appropriately. We have to try to get the level of malaria down, specifically among pregnant women and children under five years, which are the most affected population,” the diplomat added. 

Enter health minister

According to Dr Manaouda Malachie, the project will help in reaching out even the most remote communities in the North Region with the participation of community health workers.

“I think what we should expect is the remobilisation of the fight against malaria in our country and an extra motivation through community health workers who have to go down to the remotest parts of communities in the North Region, to sensitise the population on how to use the bed nets, take treatment and prevent malaria,” the minister told the press. 

He further explained that the project will significantly reinforce the health systems at the regional, health districts, councils and local levels.

He added that through the project, all stakeholders will unite and speak the same language towards achieving the eradication of malaria, by 2030, as recommended by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.

“We believe for the next five years of the project, it will have a major impact in the fight against malaria,” Dr Manaouda emphasised. 

About USAID SEMBE II Project

Speaking to The Guardian Post, the Project Coordinator and Country Programme Manager at Jhpiego, William Twahirwa, said the five-year project, which commenced on March 1, 2024, will be implemented in the 15 districts in the North Region of Cameroon.

He said they will be working towards increasing access to and utilisation of quality malaria diagnosis, insecticide treated bed nets, drug-based prevention and treatment services at the facility and community levels.

“We want to increase the adoption of malaria prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours for malaria and other febrile illnesses as well as boost access to and utilisation of quality malaria data,” Twahirwa explained

It is worth noting that SEMBE II project, launched after SEMBE I, was launched last March, by the visiting US Global Malaria Coordinator, Dr David Walton.

The ongoing SEMBE I project, worth 18 billion FCFA, will last five years.

The project, which targets the Far North Region, is being implemented by the US malaria partner, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social, ACMS.

SEMBE I, just like SEMBE II, seeks to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality by strengthening the capacity of local entities to lead the prevention, control and elimination of malaria in the Far North Region of Cameroon.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3158 of Thursday July 4, 2024