Visionary Reports

Health ministers have come out with a road map to keep the virus at bay.

With the emergence of the Corona Virus (COVID 19), CEMAC member countries have been taking measures to ensure that the disease  do not spread. So far the virus is present in 113 counties with about 118326  people  infected with 422  deaths recorded.  With the detection of two cases in Cameroon, there was need for a road map to ensure that the disease does not spread. Against this backdrop, health ministers within the CEMAC region on March 12, 2020 held a meeting to come out with a road map to combat corona virus. During the meeting in Douala the president of the CEMAC commission Prof. Daniel Ona Ondo called on member countries reinforce surveillance and take every detail seriously. To him, the economic impact on the sub region will be huge as such all member countries should put hands on deck to combat the disease. Cameroon Minister of Public Health Dr Manaouda Malachie revealed that the two cases detected are stable and are been followed up.  He said the Cameron government has put up a team working round the clock to ensure that all goes well. He called on Cameroonians to remain calm as the situation is other control. He added that suspected cases should be reported to 1510 and a team will get to where the patient is so as to avoid more infections. The executive secretary of the Coordination Organization for the Fight Against Endemics in the in Central Africa (OCEAC) Dr Manuel Obiang Ada Said the road map put in place has a three months ( March to May) emergency plan.  The meeting which took place under the auspices of the Coordination Organization for the fight Against Endemics in the Central Africa (OCEAC) saw member countries putting up a response plan to the Corona virus. A release that sanctioned the meeting revealed that the sum of CFA 2.3 billion have been budgeted for the emergency plan. The release also urged    member countries to step up surveillance, embark on more communication to sensitize the population and to re-enforce the capacity of medical personnel within member countries to combat the disease. Members also agree to mobilize more funds to keep corona virus at bay.

GINA ESONG