Members of Parliament, MPs, have express their willingness and commitment to assist government in achieving its plans to provide universal health coverage for all Cameroonians and to fight and completely eradicate the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
They lawmakers voice their readiness to accompany government in the direction at the end of a Special Plenary Sitting on the theme ‘‘moving towards universal health coverage and COVID-19 immunisation: opportunities for human capital development’’. The session which lasted some four hours took over ten lawmakers to the rostrum to quiz Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie on steps taken towards implementing the universal health coverage and the progress of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
During discussions and exchange of views, the minister told the MPs that government’s major preoccupation remains to improve performance and working condition of health workers. He reminded them of the recent decision taken by the Head of State to increase the retirement age of health workers among other steps and provided answers to concerns raised on the construction health faciltiies, distribution of Covid-19 preventive kits, and situation of kidney patients among others.
He further reminded the lawmakers to take their responsibility and come up with legal frameworks that will facilitate the implementation of the universal health care coverage plan in Cameroon. Harping on the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister said the safest protection means against the virus remains vaccination.
The MPs recommended that the minister and government ensure that all the population, regardless of social category, are fully integrated into the universal health coverage mechanisms in accordance with the norms of national solidarity; lay emphasis on the complete integration of rural areas especially those involved in agro-pastoral activities; ensure that structures, processes, alert mechanisms and good governance be set up to ensure the financial stability of the plan and its sustainability and increase awareness on the health coverage plan.
Touching on the situation of Covid-19 vaccination, the MPs recommended intensification of awareness raising and sensitisation campaigns on barrier measures and vaccination in both urban and rural areas with tools suitable for each area; envisage a plan to finance the vaccines and the operations of vaccination; adopt a forward-looking vaccine procurement policy, define and communicate the criteria for vaccination and the standard profile of people to be vaccinated; focus the fundamentals of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19; ensure adequate training of the vaccination agents and health personnel in the field; ensure equitable access to vaccines; empower more health centres to carry out COVID-19 tests and to manage patients; cover rural areas by providing health centres with COVID-19 test kits and organising outreach campaigns; ensure better coordination of all stakeholders involved in the COVID-19 vaccination process; monitor and evaluate the various COVID-19 vaccination screening and management posts.
The lawmakers also urged the health minister to include the COVID-19 vaccine as a recommended vaccine in the immunisation programme; regulate Cameroon’s vaccine development and licensing system for a better appreciation of the vaccines proposed by WHO and guarantee the safety of the population; integrate Cameroonian pharmacopoeia solutions into the COVID-19 treatment protocol, and organise and promote those approved by the Scientific Committee.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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