Yaounde: Organisation equips Imams to boost malaria prevention efforts.

The training session, held at the Council’s headquarters in the Essos neighborhood of Yaounde. It brought together imams and religious leaders to reinforce their role in promoting malaria prevention and public health education.

The initiative, experts say, comes in response to data showing high malaria-related deaths in the country. In 2024 alone, over 2.16 million Cameroonians reportedly died of malaria, according to figures presented during the session. 

Officials have warned that the actual toll may be even higher due to unreported community-level deaths.

Representing the NGO at the event was the Chief of the Communication Unit of the National Programme for the Fight Against Malaria, Zintsem Philomene, while the religious leaders were led by Imam Ngapna Mouhamed, who sits atop the association.

Addressing the press, the Communication officer explained that the decision to involve religious leaders was based on research showing that imams and other community figures are trusted messengers who can influence public behavior.

During the workshop, participants were briefed on the national malaria situation, government prevention strategies, and available healthcare services. 

Particular focus was placed on household hygiene, safe water storage, the use of mosquito nets, and early treatment for fever. 

The religious leaders were also informed that malaria treatment is free for children under five and that pregnant women are entitled to free mosquito nets and preventive medication from their first prenatal consultation.

“People do not go directly to health care when a family member has a fever. But it is this cost of care that leads to serious cases, complications and sometimes deaths. It was necessary for the imams to know that taking care of malaria, simple and serious, is free for children under 5years" Zintsem said.

Regarding vaccinations, she furthered: "We must go to vaccination. For children from six months to 24 months, the anti-malaria vaccine is available in 42 districts. The pregnant woman, from her first prenatal consultation, has the right to a free mosquito net to protect her and her future baby. And from the 13th week, she has her intermittent preventive treatment" the official revealed. 

A key component of the session was the presentation of a newly revised national guide for malaria control. 

"The guide is already available in digital version, and the paper version will be delivered in a few days to the National Programme to Fight Malaria. By the beginning of September, the guide will be carried out in all health care institutions, whether they are public or private, because we want the policy of face-to-face meetings to be the same, as recommended by the WHO" the communication officer concluded.

Imams commit to fight malaria 

The president of the Islamic Supreme Council, Imam Mouhamed, commended ISA for involving religious leaders in health promotion. 

He said the session had dispelled myths surrounding vaccination and emphasised that religious leaders now felt better prepared to sensitise worshippers on preventive measures, especially during Friday sermons and Qur’anic school sessions.

"We have acquired appropriate language to be able to sensitize our faithful in our respective mosques. We must focus on the fight against malaria, which is a major cause of many deaths around us. We must focus on hygiene and health in our homes and especially in our surroundings. If we can reduce contact with mosquitoes, we will reduce the mortality rate caused by malaria," the religious leader noted.

The Cleric went on to call for regular engagements like this workshop and urged imams to dedicate a moment during Friday sermons to promote anti-malaria practices. 

"We have exalted the imams to take only one minute at the end of their Friday sermon to tell our faithful to protect themselves against malaria by avoiding contact with mosquitoes," he concluded. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3520 of Friday August 01, 2025