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Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015

C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s There is no officially approved mental health plan or policy, however, mental health is specifically mentioned in general health policy and other legislation. Health MDGs: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mature in 2015, but monitoring of progress is ongoing due to the time it takes to collect and analyse data from each country. For Cameroon to achieve its targets for the reduction of child mortality, which forms MDG 4, it will have to have reduced underfive deaths per 1,000 live births to 45 and increased measles immunisation to 100 per cent when the 2015 data analysis is complete. In 2013 under-five mortality stood at 95 deaths per 1,000 live births and measles immunisation at 83 per cent, making it unlikely that Cameroon will achieve this goal. The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by threequarters between 1990 and 2015. For Cameroon, maternal mortality should fall to 168 cases per 100,000 live births. In 2013 Cameroon had an adjusted maternal mortality ratio of 590 deaths per 100,000 live births. Based on the data reported by the country to date, Cameroon is unlikely to achieve the maternal mortality target. Part of the goal also stipulates that 100 per cent of births must be attended by a skilled health professional. In 2011, the most recent figure available, this stood at 64 per cent, so this target is unlikely to be met. MDG 6 aims for a reduction in the prevalence of HIV, malaria and other diseases. The rate of HIV infection in the country rose significantly in the period 1990–2012, although it has been gradually decreasing since 2002. Deaths from malaria have been decreasing year on year since 2008, but remain three times the number of deaths seen in 2006. Levels of estimated mortality from TB (when data excludes cases comorbid with HIV) have been falling steadily since they peaked in 2002–03, but remain double the rate seen in 1990. Dramatic progress in these areas is required if the country is to come close to achieving MDG 6. For definitions, sources and explanations on the MDGs see page 314. Universal health coverage Only a third of health care (34 per cent) was government funded in 2012. The remaining 66 per cent was paid for by patients or funded by other non-governmental entities, such as private insurers, charities or employers. Total health expenditure constituted 5.1 per cent of GDP in 2012. Expenditure by government amounts to US$20 per capita. Since there is no national health coverage, those who fall below the poverty line are often unable to pay for services and thus go without. To compound this problem, there is a disparity between economically viable sections of the country, with many of the poorer areas lacking the funds to support doctors and nurses. Nongovernmental 160 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 organisations have set up free access to HIV/AIDS prevention education and treatment throughout the country. In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) funded efforts to vaccinate children under the age of five against polio following an outbreak. The WHO Country Co-operation Strategic Agenda (2008–13) identifies the development of nationwide initiatives to reduce health inequalities, introduce health promotion throughout citizens’ lifetimes and offer universal health coverage as three priorities. It also sets Cameroon the task of strengthening its health system by offering quality health care delivery and improving funding sources. Cameroon was not an original signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but acceded to it in 1984 and has written the covenant into law. It includes ‘the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. The covenant commits signees to providing healthy and hygienic environmental conditions, controlling epidemic diseases, improving child health and facilitating access to health services without discrimination. Care of the elderly: Around 718,000 people in Cameroon are over the age of 65 – three per cent of the population (2013). At the age of 60, a person living in Cameroon can be expected to live for an additional 16 years on average. Overall, public pension spending is equivalent to 0.4 per cent of the country’s total economic output (2005). Senior citizens often struggle financially as there is no national pension policy to cover all workers and private plans can be unreliable. Population over 65 3% As in other African countries, older people are traditionally cared for by younger generations of their extended family, but AIDS has seen many people outlive their children. Financial help for the elderly tends to be limited to those who were employed in the formal sector. In 2014 Cameroon opened its first palliative care unit at St Martin de Porres hospital in Yaoundé. Further information Ministry of Public Health: www.minsante.cm Commonwealth Health Online:www.commonwealth health.org/health/africa/cameroon


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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