Some communities along the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline were visited on Monday.

The ‘Association Camerounaise Pour le Marketing Social’ (ACMS) on Monday April 23, 2012 organised a press trip to some communities along the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline in Lolodorf, Ocean Division of the South Region. The trip was later concluded with a press dinner in Yaounde on the same day.

The visit was in prelude to the fifth edition of the World Malaria Day which will be celebrated today April 25. The theme for this year is “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria.” The purpose of the visit was to enable journalists appreciate the activities of ACMS and partners in the fight against malaria along the pipeline. The delegation visited community relay agents and some families that received mosquito bed nets in Bibondi, Bikoka and Lubandi.

The Community Relay Agent of Bibondi, Ferdinand Awo Obama said cases of malaria have reduced in the community since December 2011. Ferdinand Obama receives patients, examines them and gives them malaria treatment kits according to their age groups. “The rate of malaria attack has reduced to about 36 per cent since we started the project in December 2011. I receive an average of four patients a day,” he said. He explained that he follows up his patients even after treatment. One of the recipients of mosquito bed nets, Radegonde Abeng, said since she got the mosquito bed nets, she and her family have been safe from malaria.

Speaking at the press dinner, the Permanent Secretary of the National Malaria Control Programme, Prosper Ndong à Bessong, said the State encourages efforts by partners in the fight against malaria in the country.