Although there were new waves of displacement in Far North, Northwest and Southwest regions during the year, we were forced to reduce our activities even further when four of our staff were imprisoned and accused of complicity with secession in Buea, in Southwest region. They were all later exonerated; however, we were not able to resume our medical services as the government provided no guarantees that our staff and patients would be protected.
Meanwhile, the suspension of our medical activities ordered by Cameroonian authorities in Northwest region in December 2020 remains in place, meaning that these two anglophone regions, which have been engulfed in conflict since 2016, have been left without much-needed support.
In Far North region, we responded to the increasing healthcare needs with patient treatment, training of medical staff, and reinforcement of medical supplies in health centres supported by MSF. We also helped improve access to healthcare at community level, by working with community health volunteers, whom we have trained to treat simple cases of common diseases.
Heavy rains in Kousseri caused thousands of people to abandon their homes. During the ensuing high peak in malaria, we scaled up treatment in the area. Due to insecurity issues, we took the hard decision to end our activities in Fotokol, where some of our staff were abducted in January 2022.
There was a surge in cholera cases in several regions in 2022. MSF supported the national response in Centre, Littoral, West and Far North regions, by providing epidemiological surveillance, training for community health workers, hygiene activities to curb the spread of the disease, and vaccinations. We also supported the national COVID-19 response in the capital, Yaoundé, with testing and vaccinations.
