A three-day sensitisation campaign against cholera ends in Yaounde on thursday.
Cholera continues to remain a major threat to public health. In order to prevent the public from the dangers of the disease, a three-day sensitisation campaign against cholera ends in Yaounde today October 27. The campaign which is organised by CARE International Cameroon is in continuation of the project “Kick out cholera in communities in the Centre Region” put in place since March 2011 with financial support from the Department of Humanitarian Aid of the European Commission.
The campaign which ran from October 25 to 27 aimed at sensitising taxi drivers, public transport owners and passengers, and railway travellers on the dangers of cholera. It entailed distributing kits containing stickers carrying specific messages such as how to treat water, avoid eating roadside food and what measures to take in case of an attack. Yesterday, stickers were distributed in Mvan, Elig-Essono, Nlongkak and the Melen neighbourhoods in Yaounde. The stickers were placed on backs of seats and windows of vehicles with the help of some 100 community facilitators. One of the facilitators, Mathieu Oloume said the stickers are placed on spots where passengers can easily read. He said they first discuss with drivers of vehicles who then give them authorisation. He said some drivers are reticent but they try as much as possible to convince them.
The President of Elig-Essono Health Committee (COSA), Jules Nkodo said distribution is going on smoothly, adding that his team is expected to go to the railway station today. He explained that for taxis, the stickers are placed at the filling stations at about 12:00 noon when drivers go to refuel. Officials of CARE International Cameroon said a total of 28,000 stickers are expected to be distributed in Yaounde. The operation, the source said covers all the seven sub divisions of Yaounde. In the same vein, CARE will organise a campaign for washing of water tanks in communities without drinking water.
Also, CARE will carry out a census of main water sources in the city in order to come out with a map on the state of vulnerability of Yaounde as far as the quality of water consumed and the number of people who are concerned.
