REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN Paix – Travail – Patrie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- MINISTERE DE LA SANTE PUBLIQUE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- CABINET DU MINISTRE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace – Work – Fatherland =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- MINISTER'S OFFICE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
COVID-19 Pandemic Control
PRESS DECLARATION OF THE MINISTER OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
Yaounde, 06 April 2020
- Media professionals;
- Ladies and gentlemen.
Cameroon's response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic under the dynamic and permanent leadership of the President of the Republic, has reached the end of the first operational phase. Since the notification of the first confirmed positive case of this pandemic, this phase has enabled us to test our response strategy and provide elements for its improvement, at the challenges in the field of operations. Lessons learned during this period require us to anticipate and act effectively to deal with the pandemic in a relevant manner, over and above the need for ongoing adaptation. Last week, I had the opportunity to outline the line of action of our revised response strategy to COVID-19, supervised by the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
I would therefore like to point out that the active search for cases, particularly through the massive testing launched in Douala, has indeed begun and is producing satisfactory results in terms of identifying cases and isolating them in order to protect everyone. As far as Yaounde is concerned, our action has first of all made it possible to quickly identify positive cases among people quarantined in hotels when they returned home from foreign countries, the vast majority of whom are in a real epidemic situation.
Furthermore, it is important to capitalize on the encouraging results already achieved so far by our system of tracing and actively searching for cases in our communities and to consider strengthening the teams and their means of action. This will help, in particular, to ensure an early and efficient management for all infected persons. The latter will require better medical regulation of dedicated health facilities.
Allow me also to remind you that, from the point of view of coordination, our strategy sufficiently integrates the local level, notably the administrative authorities in collaboration with the Regional and Local Authorities, to which communities who are able to facilitate the active search for cases, awareness-raising and hygiene. This involves mobilizing and gaining the support of all the stakeholders in our country in order to carry out this fight.
In terms of training, priority remains the ongoing capacity building of health personnel, who are on the front line in the fight against this pandemic and who, to date, have been carrying out their mission with dedication, commitment and a high sense of sacrifice and public service. In this regard, training is being conducted daily at both central and devolved levels to ensure that our staff are ready to respond effectively and continuously to this pandemic.