Fight against tuberculosis : PNLT briefs the press on the challenges in Cameroon

In anticipation of the 31st World Tuberculosis Day, celebrated on March 24, 2024, under the theme “Yes! We can end tuberculosis,” the Permanent Secretary of the National Tuberculosis Control Program (PNLT), Dr. Bisso Ngono Annie Prudence, briefed the media on the strengths and weaknesses of the fight against tuberculosis in Cameroon. “Stop tuberculosis in Cameroon by 2030.”

This is the new challenge set by the Permanent Secretary of the National Tuberculosis Control Program, Dr. Bisso Ngono Annie Prudence. This was during the media briefing on March 12, 2024, in anticipation of the 31st World Tuberculosis Day, celebrated on March 24, 2024, under the theme “Yes! We can end tuberculosis.” The aim was to equip media professionals with knowledge about the fight against tuberculosis and to encourage them to organize health programs specifically on tuberculosis. The objectives of this briefing are to effectively train media personnel on the fight against TB and engage them in supporting the program through TB-related productions. If implemented, this briefing will contribute to achieving the World Health Organization’s goal of ending tuberculosis by 2030.

The meeting began with the registration and introduction of participants. After the introductions, the Permanent Secretary opened the session by emphasizing the importance of the meeting and providing an overview of the state of the fight against tuberculosis in Cameroon. It was noted that the PNLT is going through a turbulent period and needs support from donors, decentralized local authorities, and civil society. Following discussions with journalists, Marthe Anick Nga Minkegue presented a video presentation on the fight against tuberculosis in Cameroon.

The main strengths of the fight against tuberculosis include the existence of a network of 261 diagnostic and treatment centers (CDTs) nationwide, distributed across the regions: Adamaoua (14), East (21), Center (55), Littoral (38), Far North (31), North (21), West (20), Northwest (21), South (19), and Southwest (20). The annual budget allocated by the State to the PNLT in 2019 is 436,665,000 XAF, distributed as follows: Acquisition of first-line drugs: 280 million; acquisition of second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs: 10 million; laboratory reagents: 10 million; reception-consumables and others: 136 million. The central unit of the PNLT is the Central Technical Group (GTC), which is the executive body of the National Tuberculosis Control Committee (CNLT).

The CNLT is an interministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Public Health. Current challenges include ensuring regular drug supply, improving the cure rate in major cities and certain regions, strengthening laboratory diagnostic capabilities, systematic detection of TB in people living with HIV (PLHIV), systematic detection and programmatic management of MDR-TB, increased involvement of civil society (CS) and private clinics, improving the quality of interventions and human resources at all levels, as well as program management at the central and intermediate levels. According to the WHO, tuberculosis caused 1.4 million deaths worldwide in 2020.

The disease, which is declining by about 2% per year, remains one of the biggest killers in recent years. This situation has led to the establishment of the project to improve the management of tuberculosis infection (APRECIT), which aims to eradicate the disease by 2035. The incidence of tuberculosis in Cameroon in 2021 was approximately 174 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. According to the country’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Malachie Manaouda, the absolute average is 46,000 new cases expected.

The mortality rate around tuberculosis is 29 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. 1189 children contracted tuberculosis, accounting for 5.2% of reported cases. The mission of the National Tuberculosis Control Program is to end tuberculosis in Cameroon by 2030. This will be achieved through a national strategy based on early detection and diagnosis of TB cases, proper treatment of patients, disease prevention, community participation, health personnel training, advocacy, communication and social mobilization, epidemiological surveillance, systematic screening and management of HIV in TB patients, and TB in HIV patients (joint TB/HIV activities), early detection and management of MDR-TB.

Elvis Serge NSAA