Dr José Andjembe ESSOLA

Regional Delegate for Public Health in the East, he talks about the cases of cholera recorded in his region and raises awareness among the population on the hygiene measures to be observed to avoid contracting the virus.

Cases of cholera recorded in the Eastern Region. Can you confirm this information?
On 27 April 2023, the Eastern Region, and more precisely the Health District of Bertoua, recorded its first cases of cholera
for the year 2023. The East region had already been in a cholera epidemic in July 2022. Thanks to the efforts of the staff and the support of the administrative authorities, we have had a long period of calm. Today, we made a field visit firstly to assess the level of the response that has been carried out in the Bertoua health district with the support of CERPLE. Secondly, to assess the optimal management of patients treated at the regional hospital’s treatment centre. Is a field visit enough? We are also going to strengthen community awareness in the vicinity of confirmed cases. This is how we were able to see that the response is effective. During our visit, we were pleased to find the staff in place. The Director
of the regional hospital had already briefed all her staff who are already on alert. The treatment
of the various hospitalized cases is totally free and respects the protocols and algorithms of the Ministry of Public Health. Thanks to the efforts made by the staff of the regional hospital, after having visited each patient individually, we have personally noted that all the patients are in good health, and the discharge of some of them is already scheduled. What is planned for the next few days to respond to cholera?
With the support of our hierarchy, under the leadership of the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, as well as the support of the local administrative authority, notably the Governor of the Eastern Region, who is particularly monitoring the situation, we will continue to respond. We have noticed that most of the cases were imported from Yaoundé. With the collaboration of the transport delegate, we have put in place the travel agencies. We have undertaken to disinfect all travel agencies, and we have instructed
the district chiefs to do the same. We are also going to train the hygienists of these agencies so that decontamination is continuous.
We are also going to send strong messages to the heads of travel agencies not to allow any passenger with cholera symptoms
to travel. We urge people to continue to observe strict hygiene messages.
Interview by Murielle Esson