Story, Louvier KIndo Tombe
The “Systems to End the Malaria Burden Through Meaningful Engagement in the North Region (SEMBE II)” is a five-year project aimed at reducing Malaria-related morbidity and mortality by improving the capacity of Cameroon’s National Malaria Control Program and other local entities to lead the prevention, control, and elimination of malaria in the country by 2029.
It is implemented in all the 15 Health Districts in the North region by a consortium of five organizations: Jhpiego, Reach Out Cameroon (ROC), Pentecostal Advocates for Socio-Economic Development (PENASED), Center for Infectious Disease Research (CRID), and the eHealth Foundation. The consortium is led by Jhpiego.
The official Launch of the project took place at the Hilton Hotel in the presence of all the different stakeholders. Speaking while launching the project, Public Health Minister Dr. Manaouda Malachie encouraged the different Health experts in the North region to double efforts to see that the project is executed smoothly.
“The actions of SEMBE II should capitalize on the various Health facilities in the North region,” DR. Manaouda Malachie said.
The US Ambassador to Cameroon, Christopher John Lamora, said SEMBE II project falls in line with the 2024/2028 National Strategic Plan to Fight Malaria.
Cameroon is one of the 11 countries in the world bearing 70% of the burden of malaria as reported by the World Health Organization. The SEMBE II project is thus timely, and that explains why the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) through USAID provided critical support to the government of Cameroon.
Public Health Minister, Manaouda Malachie praised the US for the continues support to assists the government’s anti malaria efforts.
The choice of the North region was not taken haphazardly; the malaria situation in the region last year was greater than the national situation. Dead rate in the region among children was estimated at 13.2% whereas at the national level, it was 7%.
Expected results
SEMBE II is working on a global budget of approximately FCFA 21 billion. The intermediate results can however not be over emphasized.
The project aims at increasing access to and utilization of quality diagnosis, insecticide treated bed nets and drug based prevention and treatment services at the facility and community levels. It will also increase access to an utilization of quality malaria data.
Focus will also be laid on strengthening and optimizing health systems’ planning, coordination and management of local response to malaria and other febrile illness.
The idea is to give good health to kids so that they might be able to go back to school for drop outs or stay healthy in school, give health to parents so that they may be able to fend for their families, empower enterprises’ man power to be able to boosts the country’s economy.
Achievements so far
SEMBE II is coming after the successful launch of SEMBE I last year which focuses mainly in the FAR North Region, and is still supported by the US President’s Malaria Initiative.
So far, 1.7 million mosquito nets have been distributed to families in Cameroon, including 6 million fast0acting medicines, 3.9 million preventive treatment in Pregnancy, 6.1 million rapid diagnosis tests, 41.7 million seasonal preventive treatments among others.
Since partnering with PMI, Cameroon has made significant progress against Malaria. This has greatly contributed to a reduction in all-cause child death of about 34%. Health systems are now stronger and health workers have received more than 115,000 trainings to help them fight malaria.
