National Assembly: MPs advocate sustained, domestic, multisectorial mobilisation to end malaria.

It was organised by the Parliamentary Caucus on Health Financing, COPEMA Cameroon, in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme, PNLP, and Impact Santé Afrique, ISA.

The hybrid event brought together key stakeholders, government officials, researchers, as well as representatives from the private sector and civil society.

Hon Peter Njume Ambang chaired the event on behalf of the House Speaker, Rt Hon Theodore Datouo, while the Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Health, Prof Louis Richard Njock, sat in for the minister.

Reflections during the event centrered on the theme: “Mobilising parliamentary action to strengthen the response to malaria and ensure the sustainability of high-impact interventions”.

Given the high malaria prevalence and persistent mortality rates, stakeholders stressed that institutionalising sustainable inter-sectoral contributions could help bridge critical funding gaps in malaria control efforts.

The representative of health minister said malaria remains a public health concern for Cameroon with about three million cases reported at hospitals yearly.

Prof Njock noted that the disease is responsible for more than a quarter of consultations in health facilities in the year 2025 with more than 36% of death recorded. 

While reaffirming government’s resolve to eliminate the malaria phenomenon, he also praised the engagement of MPs and other stakeholders, which testify of the synergy in fighting the disease. 

Enter COPEMA leader

For Hon Njume Peter, despite the recommendation of the World Health Organisation, WHO, for countries to allocate no less than 15% of national budgets to the health sector, the Ministry of Public Health continues to receive only about 5% of the national budget.

As such, the COPEMA-Cameroon head highlighted the necessity for government to allocate at least 1% of the budgets of key sectors directly to malaria-related interventions.

“The fight against malaria is urgent. It is only we, the parliamentarians, who can be able to understand that our populations are suffering. They are dying,” Hon Njume said.

He also cited the need to work collectively to avoid malaria-related deaths occurring in communities and across the country daily. 

“We have brought together the private sector, the regional assemblies, our partners, and many others, to come together so that we can see how we'll be able to mobilize resources in the fight against malaria,” he stated. 

With external sources of malaria funding dwindling, he said Cameroon has what it takes to be able to rally the resources locally in the fight against malaria. 

To him, the fight against malaria is no longer just a common fight but rather it has become a developmental issue. Going by him, the fighting malaria should be seen as an investment. 

“That is why we are asking all the ministers to give us (malaria fight) just one percent of their budget. One percent of your budget is going to help significantly,” the lawmaker added. 

Health budget gap threatens malaria elimination drive

The representative of WHO Cameroon said the country's health budget has been stuck at 5% of the national budget for years, far below the recommended 15% threshold, which undermines the fight against malaria and other health priorities.

According to the official, the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2024-2028 requires about 200 billion FCFA, yet only 100 billion FCFA has been mobilised so far, leaving a 50% funding gap that partners’ contributions have not been able to fully close.

To address the gap, he pointed that the government through the various ministries are urged to progressively raise their contributions by at least 5% annually, with the goal of reaching 50% domestic funding within 5 years, while international partners try to cover the remaining half. 

This balance, he said, is essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of malaria interventions.

MPs urged to act 

The Senior Advocacy Officer of ISA, Mérimé Tchakoute, regretted that Cameroon continues to allocate less than 5% of national budget to health, with urban areas receiving a larger spending over rural areas.

He then sounded the for decentralisation of available resources down to local communities, with MPs having an essential role to mobilising resources and ensuring decentralisation is properly implemented nationwide.

“Our aim is to support MPs in their efforts to ensure accountability during the budget drafting process, so that they can ensure decentralisation is effectively implemented. Impact Santé Afrique intends to continue supporting MPs because they have a role to play in engaging other sectors,” Mérimé said.

While insisting on the need for MPs to strengthen budget oversight, he encouraged the lawmakers to pass legislation easing procurement of health inputs and services, and help reverse declining health funding.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3825 of Monday June 22, 2026