Yauba Saidu1,2, Marius Vouking3,4, Andreas Ateke Njoh5,6, Hassan Ben Bachire3, Calvin Tonga3, Roberts Mofor7, Christain Bayiha3, Leonard Ewane3, Chebo Cornelius7, Ndi Daniel Daddy Mbida5, Messang Blandine Abizou8, Victor Mbome Njie8,9, Divine Nzuobontane10. 1. Clinton Health Access Initiative, Cameroon Country Office, Third floor, Y-building, Rue 1775, Nouvelle Route Bastos, Yaoundé, Cameroon. ysaidu@clintonhealthaccess.org. 2. Institute for Global Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. ysaidu@clintonhealthaccess.org. 3. Central Technical Group, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 4. Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Central Hospital Yaoundé, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 5. Regional Technical Group, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, South West Regional Delegation for Public Health, Buea, Cameroon. 6. Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. 7. Regional Technical Group, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, North West Regional Delegation for Public Health, Bamenda, Cameroon. 8. Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 9. Department of Public Health, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. 10. Clinton Health Access Initiative, Cameroon Country Office, Third floor, Y-building, Rue 1775, Nouvelle Route Bastos, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Civil strife has long been recognized as a significant barrier in the fight against vaccine preventable diseases in several parts of the world. However, little is known about the impact of the ongoing civil strife on the immunisation system in the Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW) regions of Cameroon, which erupted in late 2016. In this paper, we assessed the effect of the conflict on key immunisation outcomes in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. METHODS: Data were obtained from the standard EPI data reporting tool, the District Vaccine and Data Management Tool (DVDMT), from all the districts in the two regions. Completed forms were then reviewed for accuracy prior to data entry at central level. Summary statistics were used to estimate the variables of interest for each region for the years 2016 (pre-conflict) and 2019 (during conflict). RESULTS: In the two regions, the security situation has deteriorated in almost all districts, which in turn has disrupted basic healthcare delivery in those areas. A total of 26 facilities were destroyed and 11 healthcare workers killed in both regions. Reported immunisation coverage rates for key antigens including, BCG, DPT-3 and MR, witnessed a dramatic decline between 2016 and 2019, ranging from 22% points decline for BCG in the NW and to 42% points decline for DPT-3 in the SW. Similarly, the proportion of districts with DPT-3 coverage of at least 80% dropped from 75% in 2016 to 11% in 2019 in the NW. In the SW this proportion dropped from 16% in 2016 to 0 % in 2019. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrates the marked negative impact of the ongoing civil strife on key immunisation outcomes in the two regions and the country at large. This decline could amplify the risk of vaccine preventable diseases vaccine preventable diseases outbreaks in the two regions. Besides the ongoing actions to contain the crises, effective strategies for reaching children in the conflict zones as well as the internally displaced population are needed. There is also the need to rebuild destroyed facilities as well as to protect health facilities and staff from targeted violence.
BACKGROUND: Civil strife has long been recognized as a significant barrier in the fight against vaccine preventable diseases in several parts of the world. However, little is known about the impact of the ongoing civil strife on the immunisation system in the Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW) regions of Cameroon, which erupted in late 2016. In this paper, we assessed the effect of the conflict on key immunisation outcomes in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. METHODS: Data were obtained from the standard EPI data reporting tool, the District Vaccine and Data Management Tool (DVDMT), from all the districts in the two regions. Completed forms were then reviewed for accuracy prior to data entry at central level. Summary statistics were used to estimate the variables of interest for each region for the years 2016 (pre-conflict) and 2019 (during conflict). RESULTS: In the two regions, the security situation has deteriorated in almost all districts, which in turn has disrupted basic healthcare delivery in those areas. A total of 26 facilities were destroyed and 11 healthcare workers killed in both regions. Reported immunisation coverage rates for key antigens including, BCG, DPT-3 and MR, witnessed a dramatic decline between 2016 and 2019, ranging from 22% points decline for BCG in the NW and to 42% points decline for DPT-3 in the SW. Similarly, the proportion of districts with DPT-3 coverage of at least 80% dropped from 75% in 2016 to 11% in 2019 in the NW. In the SW this proportion dropped from 16% in 2016 to 0 % in 2019. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrates the marked negative impact of the ongoing civil strife on key immunisation outcomes in the two regions and the country at large. This decline could amplify the risk of vaccine preventable diseases vaccine preventable diseases outbreaks in the two regions. Besides the ongoing actions to contain the crises, effective strategies for reaching children in the conflict zones as well as the internally displaced population are needed. There is also the need to rebuild destroyed facilities as well as to protect health facilities and staff from targeted violence.
Authors: Máire A Connolly; Michelle Gayer; Michael J Ryan; Peter Salama; Paul Spiegel; David L Heymann Journal: Lancet Date: 2004 Nov 27-Dec 3 Impact factor: 79.321
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Authors: Andreas Ateke Njoh; Eric Mboke; Shalom Tchokfe Ndoula; Hassan Ben Bachir; Raoul Nembot; Cornelius Chebo; Adidja Aman; Yauba Saidu Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2022-01-12