Community members celebrating World Malaria Day on 25th April

3 December 2010: In Cameroon at least 2 million cases of malaria are reported each year by health authorities. The Global Fund, a global partnership to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria has awarded Plan Cameroon a grant of €9.6 million for the malaria control project. The initial funding covers all areas of Cameroon for a period from January 2011 to December 2012. Additional supplements of €13.1 million are available for the years 2013 – 2015.

The Plan malaria control project aims to increase the use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) by the entire population and particularly children under five and pregnant women. Plan also works to raise intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) coverage for pregnant women, which is the administration of a full course of an anti-malarial treatment to a population at risk at specified time points; for pregnant women it is a potential way of preventing malaria in infants. The increase aims to reach at least 80% coverage at national scale in 2015.

Education and community action are key to the success of the malaria control project. Using broadcast TV and radio programs about controlling malaria Plan will reach tens of thousands of people. Plan will educate hundreds of community trainers who will then teach their neighbours and communities how to prevent malaria.  Plan’s overall programmes are coordinated with the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Control Programme to reinforce messages and grow capacity for prevention and response.

With The Global Fund award, Plan will expand its operations in Cameroon by partnering with Plan USA; Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social (ACMS); The Institute for Research, Socio-economic Development, and Communication (IRESCO); The Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria (CCAM); regional civil society organizations and community-based organizations. 

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon.