Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon is situated in Central Africa and has a population of over 23 million. Of the 17-recorded neglected tropical diseases, Cameroon has 10 which are managed by 5 national programmes for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (including trachoma).
Cameroon has five public health interventions, to control, eliminate and eradicate NTDs:
(i) preventive chemotherapy
(ii) case management
(iii) vector control
(iv) supporting clean drinking water supply, sanitation and basic hygiene (WASH)
(v) participation of veterinary public health (control of zoonotic diseases)
Funding comes from the state, USAID, RTI, ENVISION and Helen Keller International. This requires cross-sectoral collaboration within government and there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for Secondary Education, and the United Councils of Cameroon. Non-governmental organisations support national leadership and are coordinated through Helen Keller International.
Challenges persist in the implementation of the Neglected Tropical Disease programme in particular in the treatment of pre- and out-of-school school children and how to scale-up integrated NTD treatments in areas co-endemic for loiasis (Loa loa) and how best to move from control to elimination for lymphatic filariasis.