The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachi, has reassured Cameroonians that HIV, tuberculosis and malaria drugs and services remain free across all public health facilities in the country.
The information, contained in a press release of March 15, 2025, seeks to counter rumours following the temporary suspension of American international funding to financially struggling countries.
The minister reiterates government’s commitment to providing the necessary healthcare to its people with or without foreign aid.
“As previously communicated, despite the temporary suspension of the US government funding, the government of Cameroon, through the Ministry of Public Health, is undertaking immediate, medium, and long-term mitigation measures to guarantee the uninterrupted provision of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria services,” the press release reads in part.
Minister Manaouda stressed that his ministry is working under the watchful eyes of President Paul Biya to strengthen the sustainability of priority health programs in the country via its Universal Health Coverage (UHC) project.
He has urged the general public to remain calm and to rely only on official communications from the ministry.
“All staff of the health facilities and community-based organizations are urged to continue their daily activities in accordance with national guidelines, ensuring that all beneficiaries receive uninterrupted care,” the minister cautions.
What we know
Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), African and Asian countries, especially, used to receive financial assistance worth over 12 billion dollars for critical health programmes, food and security.
However, Donald Trump’s return to the White House has seen the temporary suspension of USAID for 90 days, counting from January 20, 2025.
This has sparked speculations on the future of people living with HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the countries that used to benefit from the programme.
Last month, the Minister of Public Health issued a circular urging all Regional Delegates and directors of hospitals to take appropriate measures within their authority to ensure continuation of HIV, TB and malaria services, with pride of place given to the most vulnerable.
That entailed reallocating health personnel and readjusting workload to fill the gaps of the 2,332 staff that were under the President’s Emergency Plan Fund for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), per a report by UNAIDS.
Despite these mitigation measures, fake news continues to spread like wild fire; reason for the March 15 press release by the Public Health boss.
First published in NewsWatch newspaper No 205 of Monday, March 17, 2025.
