Martin YAKUM1,*, Joel BAYIHA1, Benjamin AZIKE2, Joliette AZAKOH3, Anthony NJIMBIA2, Sonia NAFACK3, Pascal GOURA1, Frank KIADJIEU1, Landry BEYALA1, Jerome ATEUDJIEU1,
1M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), P.O.Box 33490 Yaoundé –Cameroun2M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), Kousseri–Cameroun ; 3M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), Douala –Cameroun
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , AUU0114
Background: cholera remains a health threat in Cameroon. The control of cholera implies reinforcing surveillance, case management, access to WaSH, and immunization. As a contribution to cholera control in Cameroon, REMMOCC project funded by IMC and implemented by M.A.SANTE is conducting a set of activities from May 2016 to present date. The objective of REMMOCC is to contribute to the reduction of the burden of cholera in Cameroon through health system and community focused intervention
Objective:This abstracts aims to share our experience and the progress of REMMOCC project in Cameroon.
Methods: This project is ongoing from May 2016 and has a set of activities geared toward the control of cholera in four health districts (Kousseri, Mada, Deido, and Nylon). The project sites were selected based on the history of cholera as the most affected in 2011. This project reinforces cholera surveillance through the training of health workers on cholera surveillance and the conduct of community based surveillance of cholera; reinforces cholera case management through the training of health workers on case management and providing ORS; improves access to WaSH by evaluating access to WaSH at households, water sources, and public places, sensitization using community volunteers, provision of Aquatab for water purification and assistance in the purification using SODIS (Solar Disinfection) method.
Results: A total of 160 community volunteers have been trained on cholera surveillance and community sensitization on WaSH.Ninety-eight health staffs trained on cholera surveillance and cases managements. More than 3000 cases of diarrhea detected in the community and treated with 8000 sachets of ORS. A total of 140000 tablets of Aquatabs were distributed in 13211 households. Close to 15380 households trained on water purification using SODIS. All households accepted and used Aquatabs but few people hesitated using SODIS and for those who accepted in health districts of far North region, some had difficulties having the indicated bottles.
Conclusion: community participation in sustainable behavior change is important but this needs a very long time to achieve the level of compliance required. REMMOCC project has contributed invaluably in the fight against cholera in Cameroon
Keywords: Cholera, surveillance, WaSH,