Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09YAOUNDE865
2009-10-14 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON: A HEALTH UPDATE
how-toVZCZCXRO9810 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHYD #0865/01 2871251 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141251Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0349 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0249 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC 0003 RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000865
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, ACCRA FOR JEANNIE FRIEDMANN
DEPT FOR USAID
USDOC FOR ITA - K BURRESS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV KOCI SOCI PGOV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: A HEALTH UPDATE
REF: A. 08 YAOUNDE 877
B. YAOUNDE 357
C. YAOUNDE 703
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000865
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, ACCRA FOR JEANNIE FRIEDMANN
DEPT FOR USAID
USDOC FOR ITA - K BURRESS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV KOCI SOCI PGOV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: A HEALTH UPDATE
REF: A. 08 YAOUNDE 877
B. YAOUNDE 357
C. YAOUNDE 703
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of Cameroon (GRC) has not
yet offered a solution to a possible
anti-retroviral drug (ARV) shortage, although the Central
Drug Depository may use its reserves to finance ARVs for
additional quarter. Although four H1N1 cases were reported
in August, the Pasteur Institute has confirmed that no
additional cases have been reported. Cameroon was recently
included in a USAID-funded project covering Neglected
Tropical Diseases, implemented in-country by Helen Keller
International. A cholera outbreak in the Extreme North and
North regions has reportedly left 19 dead, according to
government sources. END SUMMARY.
ARV Crisis Still Looming
--------------
2. (SBU) As reported ref B, Cameroon faces an imminent
shortage of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, likely to affect
about 60,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, who have until now
had access to free ARVs. The GRC has not actively sought a
solution to this shortage in past months. The government
held a roundtable for large-scale business owners, requesting
public-private partnerships to cover some ARV funding costs.
After much prodding from international donors and a three
month delay, Cameroon's Global Fund Country
Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) submitted a Continuation of
Service request to the Global Fund in late September. This
request would fund current ARV patients for the next two
years, but would not fund any new patients requiring
treatment. The CCM hopes to receive an answer in the next
few weeks. The GRC does not currently have a action plan for
how to deal with new patients, nor for what it will do if the
Continuation of Service request is denied.
3. (SBU) There are sufficient first line ARVs in stock until
late November. CENAME, the Central Drug Depository, is
holding past due bills for recent ARV shipments. Round 3 of
the Global Fund is funding 50% of ARV costs, with the GRC
footing the bill for the rest. The GRC has not been paying
its share of recent bills, leaving CENAME to pay the balance.
Sources in the Ministry of Health told poloff that the Prime
Minister ordered the Minister of Finance to pay 5 billion
FCFA ($ 10 million) to CENAME in early August, but no money
has been allocated so far. CENAME staff recently told poloff
that CENAME is considering using its reserve money to fund
the next shipment of ARVs, thus avoiding interruption of
treatment for patients.
H1N1 - No New Cases
--------------
4. (U) Although four H1N1 cases were reported in August
(reftel C),no additional cases have been reported to
Cameroon's Office of Disease Control nor verified by the
Pasteur Institute.
Neglected Tropical Diseases
--------------
5. (U) USAID recently awarded Helen Keller International with
a large, multi-year grant to fight neglected tropical
diseases, such as river blindness, in Cameroon. The program
will work at a community level to increase awareness,
community action for prevention and treatment for several
diseases prevalent in Cameroon.
Cholera Outbreak
--------------
6. (U) A cholera outbreak has been unfolding over the past
week in the Extreme North and North regions. The government
reports 110 cases and 19 deaths as of October 13. Post has
issued a warden message raising awareness of this issue.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The GRC appears to have done a reasonably
good job of tracking the H1N1 and cholera situations.
However, its inaction on the looming ARV crisis is very
unsettling. The government appears to relying on reserves to
put the maximum pressure on donors to come up with the funds
to fix the problem. Post has raised this issue multiple
YAOUNDE 00000865 002 OF 002
times with high level officials. International donors are
increasingly frustrated, especially as several organizations
have offered to send consultants to
work on this issue. Cameroon's Round 9 proposal to the
Global Fund, submitted in June 2009, is almost one-fifth of
the total Global Fund budget, and is therefore unlikely to be
funded. We will continue to monitor the ARV and cholera
situations. END COMMENT.
PETERSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, ACCRA FOR JEANNIE FRIEDMANN
DEPT FOR USAID
USDOC FOR ITA - K BURRESS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV KOCI SOCI PGOV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: A HEALTH UPDATE
REF: A. 08 YAOUNDE 877
B. YAOUNDE 357
C. YAOUNDE 703
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of Cameroon (GRC) has not
yet offered a solution to a possible
anti-retroviral drug (ARV) shortage, although the Central
Drug Depository may use its reserves to finance ARVs for
additional quarter. Although four H1N1 cases were reported
in August, the Pasteur Institute has confirmed that no
additional cases have been reported. Cameroon was recently
included in a USAID-funded project covering Neglected
Tropical Diseases, implemented in-country by Helen Keller
International. A cholera outbreak in the Extreme North and
North regions has reportedly left 19 dead, according to
government sources. END SUMMARY.
ARV Crisis Still Looming
--------------
2. (SBU) As reported ref B, Cameroon faces an imminent
shortage of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, likely to affect
about 60,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, who have until now
had access to free ARVs. The GRC has not actively sought a
solution to this shortage in past months. The government
held a roundtable for large-scale business owners, requesting
public-private partnerships to cover some ARV funding costs.
After much prodding from international donors and a three
month delay, Cameroon's Global Fund Country
Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) submitted a Continuation of
Service request to the Global Fund in late September. This
request would fund current ARV patients for the next two
years, but would not fund any new patients requiring
treatment. The CCM hopes to receive an answer in the next
few weeks. The GRC does not currently have a action plan for
how to deal with new patients, nor for what it will do if the
Continuation of Service request is denied.
3. (SBU) There are sufficient first line ARVs in stock until
late November. CENAME, the Central Drug Depository, is
holding past due bills for recent ARV shipments. Round 3 of
the Global Fund is funding 50% of ARV costs, with the GRC
footing the bill for the rest. The GRC has not been paying
its share of recent bills, leaving CENAME to pay the balance.
Sources in the Ministry of Health told poloff that the Prime
Minister ordered the Minister of Finance to pay 5 billion
FCFA ($ 10 million) to CENAME in early August, but no money
has been allocated so far. CENAME staff recently told poloff
that CENAME is considering using its reserve money to fund
the next shipment of ARVs, thus avoiding interruption of
treatment for patients.
H1N1 - No New Cases
--------------
4. (U) Although four H1N1 cases were reported in August
(reftel C),no additional cases have been reported to
Cameroon's Office of Disease Control nor verified by the
Pasteur Institute.
Neglected Tropical Diseases
--------------
5. (U) USAID recently awarded Helen Keller International with
a large, multi-year grant to fight neglected tropical
diseases, such as river blindness, in Cameroon. The program
will work at a community level to increase awareness,
community action for prevention and treatment for several
diseases prevalent in Cameroon.
Cholera Outbreak
--------------
6. (U) A cholera outbreak has been unfolding over the past
week in the Extreme North and North regions. The government
reports 110 cases and 19 deaths as of October 13. Post has
issued a warden message raising awareness of this issue.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The GRC appears to have done a reasonably
good job of tracking the H1N1 and cholera situations.
However, its inaction on the looming ARV crisis is very
unsettling. The government appears to relying on reserves to
put the maximum pressure on donors to come up with the funds
to fix the problem. Post has raised this issue multiple
YAOUNDE 00000865 002 OF 002
times with high level officials. International donors are
increasingly frustrated, especially as several organizations
have offered to send consultants to
work on this issue. Cameroon's Round 9 proposal to the
Global Fund, submitted in June 2009, is almost one-fifth of
the total Global Fund budget, and is therefore unlikely to be
funded. We will continue to monitor the ARV and cholera
situations. END COMMENT.
PETERSON