Ministère de la Santé Publique

On the occasion of the 78th World Health Assembly, the delegation led by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. MANAOUDA Malachie, took the floor to reaffirm the country’s commitment to the fight against poliomyelitis, while highlighting the persistent challenges it faces.

Cameroon aligned itself with the statement made by the African Group and praised the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), while calling for stronger international action. The country underscored several major obstacles: insecurity making some areas inaccessible, gaps in routine immunization, the persistence of cross-border transmission hotspots, and financial constraints.

In response to these challenges, Dr. MANAOUDA and his team proposed several measures, including:
• Strengthened cross-border coordination,
• Innovative financing for targeted campaigns,
• Accelerated introduction of the hexavalent vaccine,
• Sustainable integration of the polio response into a stronger and more resilient health system, in line with the IA2030 Agenda.

Cameroon also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring equitable and sustainable vaccine coverage, even in the most complex humanitarian settings.

This declaration comes within a global context where the eradication of poliomyelitis remains a public health priority, despite the progress achieved in recent decades.

Written by Clavère NKEN, Head of COMMUNICATION, Ministry of Public Health