Health facility preparedness for cholera outbreak response in four cholera-prone districts in Cameroon: a cross sectional study

• Published in: BMC health services research Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 458 - 10
• Main Authors: Ateudjieu, Jerome, Yakum, Martin Ndinakie, Goura, Andre Pascal, Nafack, Sonia Sonkeng, Chebe, Anthony Njimbia, Azakoh, Joliette Nguefack, Chukuwchindun, Benjamin Azike, Bayiha, Eugene Joel, Kangmo, Corine, Tachegno, Gnodjom Victorin Boris, Bissek, Anne-Cécile Zoung Kanyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08.07.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Cameroon; Cameroon - epidemiology; Care and treatment; Case Management; Cholera; Cholera - epidemiology; Cholera - prevention & control; Control; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Emergency preparedness; Epidemics; Evaluation; Hand Disinfection - standards; Handwashing; Health facilities; Health Facilities - standards; Health Services Research; Humans; Hygiene; Hygiene - standards; Information management; Intelligence gathering; Medical case management; Methods; Observation; Preparedness; Sanitation; Sanitation - standards; Surveillance; Surveys and Questionnaires; Water; Water Supply - standards; Cameroon; Water; Surveillance; Sanitation; WaSH; Health facility; Preparedness; Cholera; Hygiene
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4315-7

The risk of cholera outbreak remains high in Cameroon. This is because of the persistent cholera outbreaks in neighboring countries coupled with the poor hygiene and sanitation conditions in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities to respond to cholera outbreak in four cholera-prone districts in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting all health facilities in four health districts, labeled as cholera hotspots in Cameroon in August 2016. Data collection was done by interview with a questionnaire and by observation regarding the availability of resources and materials for surveillance and case management, access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. Data analysis was descriptive with STATA 11. A total of 134 health facilities were evaluated, most of which (108/134[81%]) were urban facilities. The preparedness regarding surveillance was limited with 13 (50%) health facilities in the Far North and 22(20%) in the Littoral having cholera case definition guide. ORS for Case management was present in 8(31%) health facilities in the Far North and in 94(87%) facilities in the littoral. Less than half of the health facilities had a hand washing protocol and 7(5.1%) did not have any source of drinking water or relied on unimproved sources like lake. A total of 4(3.0%) health facilities, all in the Far North region, did not have a toilet. The level of preparedness of health facilities in Cameroon for cholera outbreak response presents a lot of weaknesses. These are present in terms of lack of basic surveillance and case management materials and resources, low access to WaSH. If not addressed now, these facilities might not be able to play their role in case there is an outbreak and might even turn to be transmission milieus.