Mr. Mahamat and family enjoying the outdoors at their household in GUIDER, North Cameroon. Photo credit: Christelle DOC USAID Cameroon PMI, November 22.

US President's Malaria Initiative Empowers Community Health Workers to Save Lives in Cameroon

How a Community Health Worker (CHW) Saved Mr. Mahamat’s Family from the Grasp of Malaria

"Thanks to Mr Ismael, a dedicated CHW, my daughter recovered from malaria. His visits have been a blessing for my family, and we haven't had any severe malaria cases in a year thanks to preventive measures we learnt from him."

In the rural locality of Guider, situated in Cameroon's North Region, Mr. Mahamat, a traditional metal worker and head of a family of 12, stands as a testament to the transformative impact of home-based care by CHWs in the fight against malaria. For years, malaria had plagued Mr. Mahamat's family, causing illness, suffering, and financial strain. However, a ray of hope emerged when dedicated CHWs began conducting home visits within his community.

Mr. Mahamat recalls the moment his journey towards a malaria-free life began. Ismael Mbock, a dedicated CHW , arrived at his doorstep. Wearing a jacket with logos of the Ministry of Public Health and the U.S. Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI)’s partners, Ismael spoke in the dialect and quickly gained Mr. Mahamat's trust. "He explained that he was endorsed by the Health District of Guider to help us with the issue of malaria," Mr. Mahamat reminisces. This encounter marked the beginning of a life-changing partnership.

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CHW Ismeal conducting educational talk on Malaria with the Mahamat family during home visits - Guider, North Cameroon. Photo credit: Christelle Ngueajio, DOC USAID.
CHW Ismeal conducting educational talk on Malaria with the Mahamat family during home visits - Guider, North Cameroon.
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Arrival of CHW Ismeal at Mr. Mahamat's household for educative talk on malaria prevention. Guider, North Cameroon. Captured by Christelle Ngueajio DOC USAID, November 2022.
Arrival of CHW Ismeal at Mr. Mahamat's household for educative talk on malaria prevention. Guider, North Cameroon.

Mr. Ismael shares his perspective on his work in the community, stating, "conducting home visits is efficient in fighting malaria. As CHWs, we reside in the community we serve and educate household members during home visits about the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, eliminating standing water, and seeking early medical attention in case of any malaria symptoms. We also conduct malaria rapid tests, treat positive cases, and refer others to health facilities when necessary, as well as systematically referring pregnant women to the clinics for their prenatal care.”

Mr. Mahamat and his family followed the advice of CHWs and took preventive measures against malaria. When his daughter fell ill, he quickly contacted Mr. Ismael, who rushed to his house and confirmed the infection by performing a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and treated the child according to the national treatment guidelines. With the guidance and support of the CHWs, Amina recovered fully.

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: Mr Mahamat installing a Long Lasting Mosquito Net for his children before bedtime following the guidance of the CHW- Guider, North Cameroon. Photo credit: Christelle Ngueajio, DOC USAID.
: Mr Mahamat installing a Long Lasting Mosquito Net for his children before bedtime following the guidance of the CHW- Guider, North Cameroon.
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: Mr Mahamat stands proudly in front of a bed net, committed to consistently preventing malaria in his household in Guider, Far North Cameroon. Photo credit: Christelle Ngueajio, DOC USAID.
: Mr Mahamat stands proudly in front of a bed net, committed to consistently preventing malaria in his household in Guider, Far North Cameroon.

Expressing his profound gratitude, Mr. Mahamat stated, "Thanks to Mr Ismael, a dedicated CHW, my daughter recovered from malaria. His visits have been a blessing to my family, and we haven't had any severe malaria cases in a year thanks to preventive measures we learnt from him."

In Guider and beyond, the inspiring journey of Mr. Mahamat and his family serve as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the profound impact of home-based care and community engagement in the fight against malaria.

Thanks to PMI's generous funding, home-based care has significantly contributed to the fight against malaria in Cameroon. Since 2019, PMI through its implementing partner, IMPACT Malaria, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, supports 2104 CHWs with training, stipends, antimalarial commodities like rapid diagnostic test kits and medications to provide essential malaria care in remote communities in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon. With an investment of over $130 million or 80 billion CFA Francs since 2017, PMI has contributed to decreasing the child death rate by 34% in Cameroon. Together, we strive for a malaria-free future.