Community health workers in Cameroon receive training to diagnose, treat malaria

Sep 7 2008

Approximately 120 community health workers in the Kumba district of Cameroon have been trained to identify, diagnose and treat malaria in an effort to eradicate the disease in the district, Kumba District Medical Officer Orok Bate said, the Post reports.

The health workers, who were selected from 93 villages, will travel to communities within the region, identify malaria cases and provide drugs from the government at subsidized prices, Bate said. He also encouraged the general population to report malaria cases to the health workers and urged the workers to avoid corruption.

According to Bate, malaria is responsible 60% of deaths among children, pregnant women and adults in the region. Some district residents also have said they are unable to access malaria treatment because they do not have enough money to travel to hospitals. In addition, many people attempt to treat malaria with roadside drugs, which often are ineffective or harmful, Bate said. According to the Post, the public has reacted positively to the community health workers, who could help reduce the district's malaria mortality rate by providing timely diagnosis and treatment (Tebug Ngoh, Post, 9/4).