Health minister, SightSavers explore new areas of cooperation.

Discussions to this effect were held during an audience minister Malachie Manaouda granted the delegation of SightSavers in Yaounde Tuesday October 15.

A major highlight of the meeting was the formal introduction of the new SightSavers representative to Cameroon, Marguerite Belobo Epse Belibi. 

According to Belobo, her appointment signifies the dawn of a new chapter in the relations between Cameroon and the organisation, which has long been at the fore of combating diseases such as trachoma and lymphatic filariasis. 

Belobo noted that for years, SightSavers has played a critical role in helping the government of Cameroon address public health challenges. She said her appointment is expected to further strengthen such efforts.

In his welcome address, Dr Manaouda expressed his heartfelt appreciation for SightSavers’ unwavering support for the country’s public health initiatives. 

He equally commended the NGO's dedication and emphasised the importance of its continued commitment in what they are best at in the country. 

He stressed that their collaboration is essential to improving the health of Cameroonians, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

The meeting was also a platform for the officials to review some of the major projects currently underway, among them the deworming programme targeting school-aged children, aimed at reaching over a million children by 2027. 

The project, Belobo said, is particularly critical in ensuring that youth grow up healthy, free from the parasitic infections that can stunt physical and cognitive development.

Both officials also touched on the fight against lymphatic filariasis, a disease that causes severe disability and social stigma in affected communities. 

According to the officials, the two-and-a-half-year initiative, with an estimated budget of one billion FCFA, is expected to make significant strides toward eradicating the disease in Cameroon. 

During the discussion, the member of government and SightSavers officials committed to working hand-in-hand to ensure that the initiative not only receives the necessary funding but also achieves its goal of protecting vulnerable populations from preventable disabilities.

SightSavers officials equally pledged to continue to support Cameroon in eliminating trachoma, a painful and debilitating eye disease that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. 

According to the organisation, despite the fact that substantial progress has been made, there are still residual activities underway to finalise the trachoma elimination dossier, with the aim of officially declaring the disease no longer a public health concern in the country. 

One of the most significant projects discussed during the meeting was the Last Mile initiative, which according to the SightSavers delegation, is funded by a consortium of international donors and seeks to against trachoma and lymphatic filariasis.

The success of the initiative, the delegation said, will depend heavily on the active participation of the government of Cameroon, particularly in the aspect of resource mobilisation.

The SightSavers delegation also expressed hope that the minister would continue to lead efforts in this area, leveraging his influence to secure the necessary financial and logistical support as the Last Mile project, if fully implemented, could create lasting change by eradicating diseases and improving the quality of life for millions of Cameroonians.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3262 of Thursday October 17, 2024