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TFF Calls for a Joint Effort to Fight Malaria
Eden Newspaper
September 2, 2009
By Lionel Nkwenti and Mihalis Ndalle (UB Students on internship)
Dr. Chris Fomunyoh:
TFF Founder/President
The Fumonyoh Foundation has called for a new joint effort by community leaders,
faith-based organisations, politicians and the public to fight malaria in Cameroon.
The call was made on 31 August in Bamenda, during a monthly seminar on HIV/AIDS
and malaria. The seminar focused on explaining malaria and its causes,
prevention, and elimination. The theme was “Recent Developments on Malaria
Prevention and Management”.
Two talks, “Malaria Prevention and Management in Cameroon” and
“Update on Malaria Research”, were delivered by local experts Dr.
Simon Kwake and Dr. Emmanuel Nfor. According to both doctors, malaria is a
serious health problem in Africa — especially Sub-Saharan Africa, of which
Cameroon is a part. They revealed that the disease, which is caused by a
parasite known as plasmodium, is usually injected into the bloodstream by the
female anopheles mosquito and is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality
in the world. Malaria mostly affects those in rural areas, especially pregnant
women and children below the age of five. This is a result of poverty and local
climate and conditions.
It is estimated there are 300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria in the
world each year, resulting in one to three million deaths. It was also disclosed
that 40% of a typical household’s budget in Cameroon is spent on malaria
treatment, 30% of admissions to hospitals are malaria cases, and 40% of deaths
among children are caused by the disease.
In addition, 109 countries on the globe are affected by malaria, while in Africa
247 million people are carrying the disease. Africa and South East Asia are the
hardest hit, with 91 of the 109 countries affected by the pandemic. Sub-Saharan
Africa accounts for 60% of the total number of malaria cases in Africa, while in
Cameroon about 900 cases are recorded every year.
Despite this high prevalence, the two doctors said the population can find solace
and a glimmer of hope in the fact that researchers are making a major effort to
eradicate the disease. They announced that a new anti-malaria vaccine has been
produced, and although it has not yet made a difference, a virus found in
chimpanzees will be used by researchers for the first time to boost the efficacy
of the vaccine. They further noted that 80 percent of households in Cameroon
have been given treated mosquito nets to protect them as they sleep. Also,
eleven countries with the disease are fighting it while six countries where
malaria has been eradicated are fighting to prevent it from making a return.
The seminar was attended by representatives of civil organisations, students and
the public.
© Eden Newspaper
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