Health

After US AID suspension: Gov’t says services offered HIV, TB patients wouldn’t be interrupted.

by Chi Emeh
11 Feb 2025 11:55
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Minister Manaouda Malachie

The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has reassured the general public that government is committed to ensuring continuity of service for people living with HIV, Tuberculosis, TB, and Malaria.
Minister Manaouda Malachie gave the assurance in a press release issued recently. In the release, the Minister of Public Health announced the temporary suspension of the United Nations international funding for a period of 90 days since January 29, 2025.

The suspension, he said, involves the United States, US, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, the leading global initiative to combat HIV/AIDS as well as the President's Malaria Initiative, PMI, supporting 55 countries with over 20 million beneficiaries.

In response to the PEPFAR and PMI funding suspension, the Minister of Public Health revealed that government has rapidly conducted a comprehensive assessment of the direct and potential impact of the suspension on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria programs and has engaged immediate and long-term mitigation actions to ensure continuity of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria services in the entire country.

Minister Manaouda Malachie assured the population that the government has put in place measures to continue the services which includes the provision of prevention, care, treatment, and support services for all vulnerable populations in all health facilities and affiliated Community-Based Organisations nationwide.

This, he said, is under the coordination of the Regional Delegations of Public Health and the Regional Technical Groups of the three respective programmes.

The Minister of Public Health reiterated government's proactive actions to ensure sustainability of priority health programmes through the Universal Health Coverage, UHC, prescribed by President Paul Biya.

He further disclosed that in the context of persistent scarcity of external funding, the country is developing a sustainability plan in response to public health challenges while ensuring national ownership.

The minister has called on all the staff of health facilities and Community-Based Organisations to relentlessly continue their daily activities of providing and delivering HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria services in accordance with their national guidelines.

The member of government also extended his gratitude to the US Government for the many years of relentless financial and technical support to Cameroonians.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3362 of Friday February 7, 2025