“Cholera is endemic in Cameroon. Since 2018, outbreaks of cholera have been reported every year in various regions of the country, including those currently affected (South-West, Center and Littoral…)”.
The Regional Committee for the Fight against Cholera in the Littoral region of Cameroon met in the city of Douala to assess its actions over the past year, and also to highlight new practices to eradicate this pandemic.
Chaired by the head of the economic, social and cultural affairs division of the littoral region, BAYIHA Françoise Chaveli, representing the Governor of the Littoral region, this meeting made it possible to carry out an advocacy campaign with the various parties concerned for the launch of the response vaccination against cholera, from February 22 to 26, 2023, will concern 05 health districts.
This plea formulated during this meeting between media men and the parties concerned aims to obtain the commitment and involvement of at least 80% of the administrative, political, municipal, religious and traditional authorities at the level of the region and in the health districts concerned; inform at least 95% of the population of the 05 health districts targeted for this 4th phase of the reactive campaign against cholera and obtain the participation of at least 80% of related sectors, scientific and professional organizations, civil health actors and community leaders.
“I invite people to welcome vaccinators, because it is a disease which is quite terrible and which can lead to death, the causes are known, it is a disease called faecal peril, so we must wash your hands, keep latrine places away », urged Françoise Chaveli BAYIHA, representing the Governor of the Littoral region.
Called “filth disease” or “faecal peril infection,” cholera manifests as vomiting, watery diarrhea, constant thirst, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, and even kidney failure. According to health specialists, the highly contagious pathology is transmitted by two main vectors: food and water.
Note that cholera is endemic in Cameroon. At the Ministry of Health, the launch of a vast awareness and vaccination campaign throughout the national territory has been announced. In accordance with vaccination practice, two doses will be administered orally 1 week apart for adults and children over 6 years of age. Three doses will also be necessary for children between 2 and 6 years old. A booster at 2 years is planned, if necessary, for adults, and at 6 months for children between 2 and 6 years old.
"Health personnel will raise awareness, community leaders and others, I also invite parents at school level to let their children be vaccinated," said the representative of the Governor of the Littoral region.
To ensure good management of the other components of the campaign, which are: training, coordination, monitoring - evaluation and finance, in order to protect the populations of these localities against cholera by vaccinating at least 95% of the target population.
The populations must resolutely commit themselves to block the way to cholera, by respecting the basic rules of hygiene which are the washing of hands with clean running water and soap, before meals and after...
By NGM
