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A workshop to review the preparedness and response plan to epidemics and pandemics of respiratory pathogens is taking place in Mbankomo.

It is following the experiences with COVID 19 in 2019, and the lessons learned at the end of this pandemic, that the head of Public Health in Cameroon, Dr. Manaouda Malachie brought together all the sectors concerned, namely the ministries in charge Security, Territorial Administration, External Relations, One Health, Partners of the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to reflect and put in place a plan of preparation for a possible pandemic which could be a germ that we catch by the respiratory tract is the main objective of the holding of this workshop opened on September 5 in the commune of Mbankomo, located in the department of Mefou -et -Akono.

METABIOTA, this technical partner of the WHO, is the initiator of this 4-day workshop, installed in more than 20 countries around the world.

Some sovereign missions of METABIOTA

It works to protect lives and to prevent, detect and respond to the impact of disease outbreaks on human and animal health, healthcare infrastructure and global health security.

3 essential points on which this technical partner of the WHO relies.

In the scientific field, METABIOTA officers conduct research to understand local risks of diseases and epidemics, helping local authorities to better target mitigation strategies.

Disease Surveillance This involves planning, supporting and executing human and animal surveillance activities in collaboration with local authorities to better manage known infectious diseases with the aim of identifying new emerging infectious diseases that threaten public health.

Capacity building here involves
Coaching staff to excel in the areas of disease surveillance, biosafety, and biosecurity, diagnosis, treatment, outbreak response.

Thus, it will be for the participants to reflect and propose solutions with the material and technical means available to the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon and the other stakeholders in order to be prepared in the event that occurs in Cameroonian territory. an epidemic of the germ that is caught by the respiratory route.

It should be noted that the opening ceremony was held on September 6 at the United Hotel located in Mbankomo in the presence of the Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Disease in service at the Ministry of Public Health MBALA ETOUNDI Georges, the latter during his taking floor reiterated the importance and impact of this initiative “beyond being a workshop ethical principles and legal and political considerations must be taken into account when talking about emergency issues of Public Health you have the heavy charge in order to prepare response tools in the face of possible cases of epidemics, he also congratulated them for the support provided during the covid 19 pandemic thanks to the tools put in place, the Government of Cameroon was able to overcome this pandemic”. Indeed, it was a question for the participants to present the report of the day of last September 5 drawn up by 5 working groups focused on 5 points: the coordination of emergencies; collaborative monitoring; clinical care systems; Access to countermeasures; community protection. It should be noted that this work is being carried out under the coordination of Mrs. TIWODA / DAJC, and Dr. Camille PENEAU / WHO AFRO.

At the end of this work on the evening of September 8, resolutions will be adopted according to the health system available to Cameroon for rapid support by the supervisory ministry in charge of Public Health in Cameroon in order to be prepared, arm in case Cameroon faces a possible pandemic.