All information pertaining to research around the epidemiology and control of both schistosomiasis and geohelminthiasis in Cameroon is collated via work being carried out by: the National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and STH, the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology and the COUNTDOWN Project
Operated by the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon, the programme defines and implements the national policy for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis and STH in Cameroon.
COUNTDOWN is an implementation research project that brings together multidisciplinary specialists from the UK, USA and Africa to generate knowledge necessary for the control and elimination of diseases by 2020.
led by Cameroon (Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology) with partners from France and the United Kingdom, uses an ambitious survey to shed new light on the long-term impacts of hybrid schistosomes.
The centre serves as the focus research centre for the epidemiology of schistosomiasis research and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Cameroon.
06-30 November 2016, Edea and Eseka
Staff members alongside PhD and MSC students from the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology (CSP) have been very busy with field visits to Edea and Eseka in the Littoral Region. These visits were for the purpose of schistosomiasis sample collection for parasitological studies ongoing at CSP. Samples were collected from school-aged children in schools as well as members in the community.
29 October 2016, Yaounde
Every year, Prof L.A Tchuem Tchuente, Director of CSP, organises practical training for his Masters students from the University of Yaounde I. This allow students to put theoretical knowledge into practice.
This year, the practical training course consisted of a field visit to a schistosomiasis transmission site where MSc students experienced first hand the realities of schistosomiasis transmission, and challenges for disease control and elimination. In addition, through the assistance from members of CSP, students carried out malacological surveys and snail identification followed by capacity building on schistosomiasis diagnostic techniques - Kato-Katz, CCA, Hemastix, and urine filtration.
26 -27 October 2016, Yaounde
A 2-days training course in malacology and use of molluscicides for snail control was carried out as part of the China-Africa meeting.
The Director of CSP, and Coordinator of the National SCH Control Programme, Prof Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente led Chinese and African partners to a schistosomiasis transmission site in the city of Yaounde, where partners carried out malacological surveys with help from experts Dr Henri Madsen, University of Copenhagen, Prof David Rollinson, Natural History Museum of London, and Dr Rabiou Labbo, RISEAL Niger. Following this training course, Chinese and African partners were able to strengthen their capacity on schistosomiasis diagnostic techniques at the CSP with help from the team at CSP.
24 -28 October 2016, Yaounde
The second meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation on Schistosomiasis Elimination took place this week at Hilton Hotel in the capital city, Yaounde.
This cooperation aims to strengthen collaboartion between African and Chinese research institutions, in order to scale up schistosomiasis control and elimination through the agreement between the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China and the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the World Health Organisation. The meeting included a 2-days training course in malacology and use of molluscicides for snail control, with activities being carried out at the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology (CSP).
03 - 07 October 2016, Limbe
COUNTDOWN Cameroon team in Buea, South West Region was pleased to welcome and host colleagues from Yaounde, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK and FHI360, USA for a 5-days working session aimed at finalising strategic research work plans for the COUNTDOWN project multiple disciplines - parasitology, vector biology, entomology, health economics, applied social science and anthropology.
Based at Seme Beach Hotel in Limbe with its magnificent views and spectacular back drops, the interactive working sessions led to great progress around the development of strategic working plans
02 August 2016, Yaounde
Communication is an invaluable tool which serves to raise awareness and sensitise the population, around the control and elimination of NTDs in the country.
Prof Tcuem Tchuente joined the team of 'CRTV m'accompagne at the national radio station to discuss the importance of building health reporting capacity within the media around NTDs. Schistosomiasis and other NTDs continue to pose problems for some populations around the country, but educating the public helps them to be aware of transmission and how to prevent it. For more information about schistosomiasis, please click here.
23 - 28 July 2016
The National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and STH organised a 6 days NTDs training session for journalists from national and regional levels. Prof Tchuem Tchuente, permanent secretary of the programme believes that "communication plays a very big role in raising awareness, controlling and eliminating NTDs".
The training session consisted field visits to various schistosomiasis endemic sites as well as areas which have managed to eliminate the disease, hence becoming success stories. Journalists were able to experience the challenges and realities faced in order to reach populations most affected. All the communities and traditional leaders visited, warmly received the team and expressed gratitude for the government's effort in hearing their voice and improving they health status.
19 July 2016, Edea, Littoral Region
Prof Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente attended a working session with the directors of the various health areas in the Edea Health District, in the Littoral Region ahead of a planned mass drug distribution.
This working session organised by the National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and STH demonstrates the government's incessant commitment in improving the health status of the population. Prof Tchuem Tchunete commended the directors for their relentless hard work and reiterated that 'in order to interrupt transmission of schistosomiasis we have to deworm the whole community, not just school-aged children'.
09 June 2016, Yaounde
We are pleased to announce that Professor Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente, Permanent Secretary for Cameroon's National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and STH and COUNTDOWN project country director has been appointed NTD Ambassador, for the renowned Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
Through this role, Prof Tchuem Tchuente will contribute in raising the profile of NTDs among policymakers, media and general public; and to advocate for NTD donors, governments and organisation to maintain and increase their commitments to achieve the World Health Organisation's Roadmap goals. Click below to read more about Prof Tchuem Tchuente
07 June 2016, Yaounde
The annual stakeholders NTD work plan meeting brought together both international and national stakeholders involved in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.
These stakeholders comprising the National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and STH, National Programme for the Control of Onchocerciasis, Helen Keller International, RTI International, Perspective, Sightsavers, and International Eye Foundation discussed the implementation the Envision project for 2017. This 8-year USAID funded project aims at providing assistance to the NTD control programs for the control and elimination of NTDs so that they are no longer a public health problem.
01-08 June 2016, Barombi
A team from the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology led by Prof Tchueme Tchuente went on a week's study field visit to Barombi, south west Cameroon accompanied by Prof Russ and the team from LSTM.
The comparative study aims at evaluating the level of schistosomiasis transmission in two sites: Barombi Mbo and Braombi Kotto. The team received warm welcomes from the chiefs and community of each village and were able to raise awareness and inform them of ways to interrupt transmission. All samples collected from the community were prepared and analysed by using various diagnostic techniques.
31st May 2016, Yaounde
Growing collaboration between the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology (CSP) and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) offers the platform for training and knowledge sharing as has been the case today.
Prof Russ from LSTM performed the Baermann diagnostic technique for the first time at the CSP where students from both CSP and LSTM were able to learn and develop their capacity. The technique makes use of stool samples to test to test for the presence of schistosomes
30 May 2016, Yaounde
A team of MSc students from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) led by Professor Russell Stothard and Dr James LaCourse are currently visiting Cameroon where they shall be collaborating with Prof Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchente and his team at the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology. Close ties forged between both institutions allows for knowledge transfer and capacity building around schistosomiasis research. The team is currently preparing for a study field visit to Barombi, in the South west region of Cameroon.
24 - 27 May 2016, Edea
A 10-person team from the Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology and University of Yaoundé I, travelled to the city of Edea, in the Littoral region to conduct an evaluation study. This study is aimed at evaluating the level of transmission of schistosomiasis and the efficacy of praziquantel treatment provided during the annual national deworming campaigns. Over a four-day period, the team collected a total of about 1600 stool samples from about 75 schools within the various divisions in the Edea health district. All samples were prepared for analysis using the kato-katz technique.
20-22 April 2016, Accra, Ghana
COUNTDOWN country partners gathered in Accra, Ghana for the consortium's first annual partners meeting. During this 3-day meeting, partners were able to look back at the progress made thus far, review work plans and develop outputs which aid in attaining end goals for respective countries
09 March 2016, Yaounde
The 2016 National Deworming campaign was launched today, by his Excellency, the Minister of Public Health, Mama Andre Fouda alongside her Excellency, the Minister of Basic Education,Youssouf Hadjidja Alim.
This free deworming of school-aged children in all ten regions of the country is in line with the activities implemented by the National Programme for the Control of Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and serves to rid the Cameroonian people of the burdens incurred from schistosomiasis and STH.
23 - 26 February 2016, Nairobi, Kenya
The Grand Challenges Africa (GCA) meeting brought together grantees funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada and the USAID, to share ideas and experiences to help define the shape and focus of GCA and potential challenges, and how GCA can drive the innovation necessary to achieve the continent’s long-term Sustainable Development Goals.
23 - 26 February 2016, a26 - 31 January 2016, Bangkok, ThailandNairobi, Kenya
CSP Director,Prof Tchuem Tchuente attended the PMAC 2016 on "Priority Settings for Universal Health". This conference gathered a total of 847 participants from 63 countries where there were interesting debates, including cost-effectiveness vs human rights considerations for setting priorities in health.
28 January 2016, Suan Luang Municipality, Kratumban District, Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand
A one-day field trip was organized to different sites, offering participants the opportunity to directly interact with persons in charge of policy decisions and implementation in real life, and to get an insight into Thailand’s health systems including care delivery, financing and management.
