2024-2028 multisectoral framework: Stakeholders finetune action plan to enhance anti-malaria fight.

The workshop which began Wednesday November 12, is jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Health, and the National Malaria Control Programme, NMCP, in collaboration with the Impact Sante Afrique, ISA. 

It brought together representatives from the central services of the health ministry, other ministries, GECAM, the Parliamentary Caucus, development partners as well as the civil society.

According to the NMCP Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr Fosso Jean, the malaria situation in the country remains worrying. Dr Fosso said the parasite prevalence remains very high at 26% with ongoing efforts to curb it to less than 5%, while nearly 1,700 deaths were recorded in 2023. 

“These deaths are only those recorded in health facilities, but if we estimate the total number of malaria-related deaths at the community level, we would be looking at around 11,000 deaths occurring in households, ” the medic stated.

Dr Fosso added that, the “goal is ambitious, and the approach should involve all segments, especially the community segment, because it is moving towards a community-based approach, with malaria management at the household level”. 

He also mentioned focus to reduce malaria-related deaths to zero and in keeping with the commitment of ‘no one should die from malaria made in March 2024. 

The commitment, which was taken during the Ministerial Meeting of highest malaria-hit countries, he said, is a multisectoral approach recommended as key pillar. 

He mentioned that each sector has its area of competence, resources and expected contributions in accordance with the multisectoral framework.

‘Everyone is at risk of catching malaria’

For the Executive Director of Impact Sante Afrique, ISA, Ngou Olivia, malaria is a disease that affects everyone, warranting the contribution and efforts of all. 

Ngou praised the participation and engagement of eight key ministries at the workshop.

“Everyone is at risk of catching malaria. It is not just a problem for the Ministry of Public Health alone,” the ISA Executive Director said.

Ngou also revealed that others ministries not yet involved still have crucial roles to play in the fight against malaria.  

“Malaria is really a disease that affects the entire population, and it is very important that everyone, every ministry and every sector contribute through a malaria control programme in their sector,” she emphasised.  

Health budgeting still insignificant

The President of the Parliamentary Caucus for Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Health in Cameroon, Hon Njume Peter Ambang, regretted that the State budgeting for health sector in Cameroon is barely about 4%.

Hon Njume said amount contrast the commitment made by states, including Cameroon during the Abuja Conference on malaria in 2002, to allocate up to 15% of the overall budget to health sector. 

Given impact of malaria on especially children and pregnant women as well as the country’s economy, Hon Njume stressed the need for budgeting on health to improve to at least 10% in the following years.

“We can do a lot of things, mobilise domestic financial resources to try to fill or replace where we have problems, especially in terms of the cessation of support from certain countries such as the United States,” he noted

The MP further noted that: “We need to increase the budget, especially for malaria in the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon”. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3624 of Friday November 14, 2025