The government of the Republic of Cameroon since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 has taken giant steps in protecting the socially vulnerable persons: children and the elderly persons.
On April 9, the government enacted a series of 7 measures to reinforce its response in addition to the 13 measures passed on March 17th, 2020. The measures are that- face masks are rendered mandatory in all public spaces; protective masks, hydro alcoholic gel and testing are being produced locally; Specialized treatment centres have been established in regional head quarters to ensure continuity of health care in health facilities; scale-up in testing; sensitization in official and vernacular languages; sanctions being applied to persons found in violation of these measures among others.
For what is being done specifically to protect women and children, the HIV section submitted a request for 2,500 COVID-19 test kits to UNICEF Supply Division and that has already been supplied. Through the efforts of the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF procured non-medical masks as a preventive support effort: 15,000 school radio and 10,000 computer tablets.
The Ministry of Social Affairs together with partners finalized a guidance note for child protection during COVID-19, including risk mitigation measures for partners to implement while delivering their services, drafted by the CP Area of Responsibility for NW/SW response; Guidance notes on child protection case management and alternative care during the Covid-19 pandemic under development.
The government also trained 600 Peer Educators of the MNCH project engaged in 35 health districts of East, Adamawa, North, Far-North and Centre regions, for awareness on COVID-19.The same applies for other programs such as Immunization, WASH, Child Protection, HIV and Education
Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dion Ngute has equally been chairing regular weekly inter-ministerial committee video conferences devoted to evaluate government’s response strategy against the covid-19 pandemic. A majority of these meetings have been to look for strategies of protecting the socially vulnerable persons: children and the elderly persons.
Recent statistics from the country’s Ministry of Public Health indicates that there are 22,103 confirmed cases, 21,151 recovered and 429 deaths.
