DRC and the six CEMAC countries recently agreed on a new joint plan to fight the COVID-19. Baptized "Sub-regional Plan to Strengthen Prevention and Surveillance of Covid-19 at CEMAC and DRC points of entry,” this XAF8 billion plan is scheduled to be implemented over 12 months, starting this year (2022).  

"The overall objective of the new plan is to contribute to COVID-19 prevention and monitoring in CEMAC countries and the DRC," informs the release issued at the end of the special videoconference of CEMAC health ministers on February 9, 2022.   

During the videoconference chaired by Cameroon’s Health Minister, Malachie Manaouda (photo), the participating countries identified 68 land, air, river, and sea entry points to be monitored to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The goal is to reinforce health watch at those entry points. 

In that regard, the countries are counting on the expertise of the Organization for the Coordination of the Fight Against Endemic Diseases in Central Africa (OCEAC) as they did for the previous plan. 

In addition to surveillance, the about XAF8 billion budget is expected to help CEMAC countries (Gabon, Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea) and the DRC to increase their vaccination coverage. Indeed, according to the countries, the Coronavirus vaccination coverage is low. They nevertheless provided no figure to justify that claim.  

Michel Ange Nga