By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The fight against malaria in Cameroon’s North Region have received a significant boost with the launch of the Systems to End the Malaria Burden through Meaningful Engagement, SEMBE II project.
Launched on July 2nd by U.S. Ambassador Christopher J. Lamora and Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, SEMBE II signifies the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to supporting Cameroon’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in achieving zero malaria deaths by February 2029.
Speaking during the event, Ambassador Lamora reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to working alongside Cameroon’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) to achieve zero malaria deaths by February 2029.
He stressed that SEMBE II is strategically aligned with several key national health plans, including the draft 2024-2028 National Malaria Strategic Plan, the National Community Health Strategy (2021-2025), and the 2016-2027 Health Sector Strategy.
On his part, Minister Malachie welcomed the U.S. government’s support and highlighted the project’s focus on reducing malaria in the North through collaboration with local communities.
He added that this collaborative approach aims to develop sustainable prevention and control strategies, ultimately reducing the burden of malaria and other diseases.
“SEMBE II will strengthen Cameroon’s healthcare system and improve health outcomes,” Minister Malachie said. “This includes increasing access to quality malaria diagnosis, insecticide-treated bed nets, and prevention and treatment services at both healthcare facilities and within communities.”
Presenting the project, Dr. Williams Twashirwa, Chief of Party said, the project will be executed in 15 districts in the North Region, co-implemented with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a consortium of five organisations.
They include, Jhpiego, Reach Out Cameroon, ROC, Pentecostal Advocates for Socio-Economic Development, PENASED, Center for Infectious Disease Research, CRID and eHealth Africa Foundation. The consortium is led by Jhpiego.
This initiative follows the successful launch of SEMBE I in March 2023, a five-year project focused on the Far North Region. Funded at FCFA 18 billion (USD $30 million), SEMBE I aimed to strengthen local capacity for malaria prevention, control, and elimination.
Malaria remains a major public health concern in Cameroon, with over two million reported cases annually. The rainy season in the North Region sees a surge in malaria transmission, with pregnant women and young children being particularly vulnerable. In 2022, the prevalence rate in the North Region reached 27.1 percent.
Ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of 11 countries carrying 70 percent of the world’s malaria burden, the government of Cameroon has established ambitious goals for malaria prevention and control within its national action plan.
The project is funded by the U.S. Presidential Malaria Initiative, PMI, through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The US government remains a committed partner in supporting Cameroon’s fight against malaria.
According to sources, this new project signifies a continued focus on collaborative efforts and locally-driven solutions to achieve better health outcomes for the Cameroonian people.
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