Cameroon is facing growing insecurity in its Far North, South and North West regions as well as significant deterioration of food security and nutrition, which puts many people vulnerable to a variety of health risks. With many people displaced, access to adequate health and sanitation services can be difficult. Cholera, measles, polio and yellow fever are among the most critical health concerns in the country.
Cameroon Red Cross, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and funding from USAID, has been helping communities prepare and prevent the spread of diseases. Focusing in North and East Cameroon, Red Cross is working with governments,communities, local responders and humanitarian partners to collectively prepare for and respond to epidemics.
Through its extensive network of local volunteers, Cameroon Red Cross is providing critical information, community-based surveillance and referrals in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries to help stop diseases from spreading before an outbreak occurs.
We are ensuring communities have critical information about the spread of diseases and how to prevent them, systems to detect outbreaks and mechanisms that ensure information sharing and community engagement. Activities include:
• Engaging communities through house-to-house visits, mobile cinemas and group discussions.
• Strengthening community-based surveillance systems.
• Engaging, training and collaborating with community influencers and leaders.
Cameroon Red Cross has more than 20,000 volunteers across the country which gives extraordinary reach into communities. In their supporting role to the government, they are often central to emergency responses amid outbreaks. Activities include:
• Strengthening systems to enable a fast, scaled-up response.
• Strengthening partnerships with different sectors and ministries.
• Training and readying communitybased volunteers.
• Strengthening infection prevention and control in Red Cross health facilities.
Epidemics not only threaten lives but all aspects of society, including trade, transportation and education. We work with a variety of key stakeholders and the media in epidemic preparedness and response. Activities include:
• Helping prepare a variety of sectors to respond (including those affected by both animal and human health).
• Training media to communicate lifesaving information to affected populations.
• Engaging, training and collaborating with schools, teachers and students through school clubs on critical epidemic preparedness messages and referrals.