The Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development has partnered with the private sector, parliamentarians, and civil society to form a task force aimed at significantly reducing malaria in Cameroon, a disease that remains one of the deadliest worldwide.
According to the Ministry, malaria continues to be a major challenge for Cameroon, with over 3 million cases and 2,000 deaths annually. The World Health Organisation reports that malaria is the leading cause of hospital consultations in the country, with more than 5 million cases per year, accounting for 2.5 percent of global malaria cases.
In response, MINDDEVEL has technically validated the first multisectoral national framework to fight malaria in Cameroon. The Ministry expressed hope that “this collaborative effort, involving 16 ministries and other key sectors such as the private sector, parliamentarians, and civil society, aims to significantly reduce the burden of malaria in our country.”
This initiative follows Cameroon’s pioneering rollout of the RTS malaria vaccine, developed by a British pharmaceutical company. The vaccine, intended for children under five, is expected to decrease malaria cases significantly among this vulnerable age group.
However, the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development has yet to provide detailed information on how the program will be implemented across various municipalities, noting that malaria-related issues are traditionally managed by the Ministry of Public Health.
