Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health has revealed that the country’s response plan against Covid 19 will need 58 billion FCFA. Dr Manaouda Malachie was speaking Thursday to Members of the National Assembly as he briefed them on the situation of the pandemic.
The Minister acknowledged the creation of the Special Solidarity Fund by the Head of state, Paul Biya with almost 3 billion FCFA contributed so far.
After noting “unsavory maneuvers in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of diagnosis and treatment”, the Minister of Public Health has warned public health authorities against collecting money for Covid 19 treatment. Some of these manoeuvers are, among other things, the systematic billing of services such as confirmation tests, hospitalizations, administration of different medical products or the systematic use of certain medical examinations.
Dr Manaouda Malachie instructed the heads of various structures concerned to take “all the necessary arrangements so that all the services linked to the management of Covid-19, without exception, are offered to patients without any financial compensation”.
Though the maximum testing capacity in Cameroon is currently 18,900, the member of the government reassured the elected representatives of the Nation that an order for 300,000 tests has been placed. It will be received in Cameroon no later than April 18. At the same time as the 100 respirators also ordered.
Malachie also revealed that, the country currently has 922 cases of infected people. Currently around thirty people are on oxygen therapy; over 200 people have already been cured of the disease, with unfortunately 21 deaths recorded.
Prevention, he highlighted remains the only weapon to fight this pandemic; recommending regular hand washing, social distancing and the proper wearing of face masks. 40.000 calls have been made to the Covid 19 toll free number in the country. Cameroon has outlined 20 preventive measures to curb the pandemic.
