E-DRUG: TB control in Cameroon
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Dear E-druggers,
I work for a Missionary Health provider the Cameroon Baptist
Convention Health board in Cameroon, West Africa.
In the last two years we have noticed an increase in the number of new
TB cases (200 new cases yearly) in our facilities. Our efforts to
help these patients is not yielding satisfactory results for several
reasons:
1. About 95% of the patients cannot pay for the cost of treatment
(USD 150-200).
2. Organizing a TB control programme is proving very difficult.
Please, if you have any experience with a successful TB control
programme or TB Drug donation programme, kindly share this with us.
Sincerely,
Nfor Emmanuel Yuniwo(Pharmacist)
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board
Central Pharmacy
PO Box 9, Bui Division
Cameroon
Tel: 237 48 14 90
Fax: 237 48 11 61
Email: hospital_banso@kastanet.org [manually added; WB]
[USD 150-200 is quite high if this is drug costs alone! In South Africa,
the basic cost of 6 months TB drugs (Rifampicin, Isoniazide, pyrazinamide,
Ethambutol) is only USD 40 per person. In neighbouring countries it is even lower
due to lower drug prices.
Does Cameroon have a national TB Programme? I think it is reasonable for
governments to provide TB drugs for free, as the population is at risk of being
infected by sputum+ people.
If the drugs are not free, maybe Cameroon Ministry of Health has national
guidelines for TB treatment?
If patients cannot afford the official TB treatment at reasonable cost, then you
will have indeed to look for donations by NGOs (Camerooneese, or overseas). ANy
NGO willing to help this hospital? If bought competitively, TB drugs for 200
persons would cost only USD 10,000 per year.
Email makes support also possible: any TB expert willing to advise the hospital
about optimal treatment regimens etc?
WB]
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