Treatment of severe malaria free for children under 5 years

A move to provide free treatment of severe malaria for under 5’s has been announced by the Minister of Health.

The good news was made public last Friday by the minster in person during the presentation of gifts to some health facilities in the PRC within the framework for Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatric Hospital of Yaoundé.

"The treatment of severe malaria in children under five years is free since the beginning of this July," said André Mama Fouda. "It is thanks to the donations we receive from Antimalarial China and other partners such as the Global Fund and the Clinton Foundation, we have reorganized the treatment of severe malaria. "However, everything is not free. It is only treatment concerned with severe malaria in children often manifested by convulsions and vomiting.

Hospitalization and other fees are not included in the free care.”

We learn this is because some mothers came to the hospital with their children beyond the stage of uncomplicated malaria, for which the treatment has been free in Cameroon since 2011, the measure was adjusted.

Although recent data from the National Programme against Malaria (Napcod) reported that the disease is in sharp decline, malaria remains the leading cause of hospitalization, infant mortality and school absenteeism in Cameroon.

In 2013, more than 3,000 people died. And according to the MOH, this measure is not intended to discourage parents who rallied the hospital at the slightest fever, in fact quite the contrary. "Do not stay at home because the treatment of severe malaria is free. Once the child has a fever, you should go to a health facility," added the MOH.

Only if the first steps taken by the government in the fight against malaria is spreading rapidly (free treatment in pregnant women, the distribution of nearly eight million ITNs long period of action or Milda), free treatment of severe malaria in children under five years is still to seeks its brands.

During the tour of some hospitals in the city, officials acknowledged anonymously they are aware of the decision, but it is still impractical.

If the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children 0-5 years is available free of charge in public health facilities, the management of severe malaria needs specific adjustments before its implementation. Even the population’s main beneficiaries of the measure have their concerns.