Gov’t strengthens border surveillance measures as COVID-19 resurfaces
In response to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in some African countries following the 2024 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, Minister of Public Health Dr. Manaouda Malachie has announced strengthened border surveillance measures.
In a statement released on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the minister outlined several preventive and control measures aimed at containing potential outbreaks in Cameroon, particularly in light of 5,500 Cameroonian pilgrims attending the event.
Key measures include the mandatory completion of identification forms for all international travelers arriving at airports, systematic testing of suspected cases, voluntary screening of travelers, and the prompt screening of suspected cases in hospital emergency departments. Additionally, all positive cases will receive free treatment.
These proactive steps come as many countries, whose citizens participated in the pilgrimage, grapple with rising COVID-19 cases. Saudi Arabia reported more than 1,300 deaths from heat-related illnesses during this year’s Hajj due to extreme temperatures reaching up to 51.8 degrees Celsius at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Senegal, with 12,900 pilgrims, has confirmed COVID-19 cases among returning pilgrims, with 78 cases detected out of 124 tests conducted at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport.
Dr. Malachie urged Cameroonians to remain vigilant by continuing to practice preventive measures such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, practicing hand hygiene, and regularly disinfecting public spaces.
Since recording its first case on March 6, 2020, Cameroon has reported over 125,000 positive cases and 1,974 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The government’s proactive measures have been credited with successfully containing previous waves of the pandemic.
