Conference abstract
The development of an integrated community-based surveillance system for skin-NTDs in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(151).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.151.2264
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Skin-NTDs, integration, surveillance, Cameroon
Oral presentation
The development of an integrated community-based surveillance system for skin-NTDs in Cameroon
Earnest Njih Tabah1,2,&, Colin CN Tsago2, Irine N. Nformi2, Francois Fouda2, Loic Douanla2
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 2National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Committee, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: although Cameroon is endemic for at least 15 NTDs, including 9 skin-NTDs. However, no functional surveillance system for skin NTDs was in place. Through the OCEAC-KFW NTDs Project for the CEMAC sub-region, an integrated community-based surveillance system for skin-NTDs was implemented in 21 health districts of Cameroon, from 2020-2022. The objective was to establish a functional community-based integrated surveillance system for skin Neglected Tropical Diseases in Cameroon.
Methods: integrated recording and reporting tools, IEC material, and training modules for skin NTDs were developed. The national DHIS2 was configured for notification of skin NTDs. Training of trainers followed by cascaded training of PHC personnel and CHW was conducted in the 21 HD. Implementation of integrated surveillance of skin NTDs started immediately after the training. This included: suspicion of cases in communities and referral to the PHC Centers by the CHW; clinical examination of the referred cases by trained health personnel at the PHCC; followed by registration, notification, and treatment of confirmed cases.
Results: three hundred and fifty-eight (358) PHC personnel and 1740 CHWs were trained. Case notification of skin NTDs through DHIS2 rose from 209 in 2020 to 2279 in 2022. Over 850000 people were sensitized on skin NTDs. An active case search led to the examination of 40790 persons of whom 4504(11%) had skin-NTDs and 6653(16%) had other skin lesions. Of the 21 HD, 9(42.9%) were newly confirmed for yaws and 2(9.5%) Buruli ulcer. Scabies accounted for 44.5% of skin-NTDs and superficial cutaneous mycoses for 62.3% of non-skin-NTDs detected.
Conclusion: the successful development and implementation of an integrated community-based surveillance of skin NTDs in 21 HDs has revealed the actual burden of skin NTDs, and other skin conditions plaguing districts. This experience requires scaling up to other HDs in the country. The confirmation of yaws in 9 HD paves the way for the implementation of the Morges strategy in them, as a pathway to achieving the yaws eradication target in Cameroon.
The development of an integrated community-based surveillance system for skin-NTDs in Cameroon
Earnest Njih Tabah1,2,&, Colin CN Tsago2, Irine N. Nformi2, Francois Fouda2, Loic Douanla2
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 2National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Committee, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: although Cameroon is endemic for at least 15 NTDs, including 9 skin-NTDs. However, no functional surveillance system for skin NTDs was in place. Through the OCEAC-KFW NTDs Project for the CEMAC sub-region, an integrated community-based surveillance system for skin-NTDs was implemented in 21 health districts of Cameroon, from 2020-2022. The objective was to establish a functional community-based integrated surveillance system for skin Neglected Tropical Diseases in Cameroon.
Methods: integrated recording and reporting tools, IEC material, and training modules for skin NTDs were developed. The national DHIS2 was configured for notification of skin NTDs. Training of trainers followed by cascaded training of PHC personnel and CHW was conducted in the 21 HD. Implementation of integrated surveillance of skin NTDs started immediately after the training. This included: suspicion of cases in communities and referral to the PHC Centers by the CHW; clinical examination of the referred cases by trained health personnel at the PHCC; followed by registration, notification, and treatment of confirmed cases.
Results: three hundred and fifty-eight (358) PHC personnel and 1740 CHWs were trained. Case notification of skin NTDs through DHIS2 rose from 209 in 2020 to 2279 in 2022. Over 850000 people were sensitized on skin NTDs. An active case search led to the examination of 40790 persons of whom 4504(11%) had skin-NTDs and 6653(16%) had other skin lesions. Of the 21 HD, 9(42.9%) were newly confirmed for yaws and 2(9.5%) Buruli ulcer. Scabies accounted for 44.5% of skin-NTDs and superficial cutaneous mycoses for 62.3% of non-skin-NTDs detected.
Conclusion: the successful development and implementation of an integrated community-based surveillance of skin NTDs in 21 HDs has revealed the actual burden of skin NTDs, and other skin conditions plaguing districts. This experience requires scaling up to other HDs in the country. The confirmation of yaws in 9 HD paves the way for the implementation of the Morges strategy in them, as a pathway to achieving the yaws eradication target in Cameroon.
