Thème :

Surveillance épidémiologique et prévention des maladies infectieuse

Type de présentation :

Présentation Orale

Titre abstract :

Health Facility Preparedness for cholera outbreak response in cholera hotspots in Cameroon

Auteurs :

Martin YAKUM^1*, Jerome ATEUDJIEU¹, Andre pascal GOURA¹, SoniaNAFACK¹,AnthonyCHEBE¹, Joliette AZAKOH¹, Benjamin AZIKE¹, Eugene BAYIHA¹, Corine KANGMO¹, Suzanne TSAKAM¹, Victorin Boris TACHEGNO¹, JosianeGOUEKEM ¹, Anne-Cécile BISSEK²

 

 

Institutions:

¹M.A.SANTE; ²Ministry of Health

Corresponding authors :

myakum@masante-cam.org

Référence :

CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OSEP001

Abstract :

Background: The risk of cholera outbreak remains high in Cameroon. This is because of the persistent cholera outbreaks in neighboring countries coupled with the poor hygiene and sanitation conditions in Cameroon.

Objectif: The objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities to respond to cholera outbreak in four cholera prone Districts

Methodolody: it was a cross sectional study targeting all healh facilities in four cholera hotspots of Cameroon in August 2016. Data collection was done by interview with a questionnaire and by observation regarding the availability of resources and materials for surveillance and case management, access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. Data analysis was descriptive with Epi Info7.2.1.0.

Results: A total of 134 health facilities were evaluated, most of which (108/134[81%]) were urban facilities. The preparedness regarding surveillance was limited with only 13(50%) of the facilities in the Far North and 22(20%) in the Littoral having cholera case definition guide. ORS for Case management was present in only 8(31%) of health facilities in the Far North and 94(87%) in littoral. Less than half of the health facilities had a hand washing protocol and 7(5.1%) did not have any source of drinking water or relied on unimproved sources like lake. A total of4(3.0%) health facilities did not have a toilet

Conclusion/Recommandation: the level of preparedness of health facilities in Cameroon for cholera outbreak response presents a lot of weaknesses. These are present in termsof lack of basic surveillance and case management materials and resources, low access to water, hygiene and sanitation. If not addressed now, these facilities might not be able to play their role in case there is an outbreak and might even turn to be transmission milieus.

Key Words:preparedness; Cholera; HEALTH FACILITIES; surveillance; Water