MTaPS' Support
MTaPS activities in Cameroon contribute to two major areas in Cameroon’s National Health Strategy (2016–2027)—prevention and control of communicable diseases and health system strengthening. Specifically, MTaPS activities focus on three of the six stated objectives of the country’s national action plan (NAP) to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR). MTaPS is supporting AMR containment by providing technical assistance to build the capacity of in-country stakeholders and strengthen the infection prevention and control (IPC) program, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in both the human and animal sectors, and multisectoral coordination for AMR.
MTaPS focuses on the following technical areas:
Strengthening governance for multisectoral coordination
MTaPS is helping to formally set up the AMR Multisectoral Coordination Committee (AMR-CCM) and strengthen the organizational and functional capacities of the technical working groups for IPC and AMS by assisting in developing operational terms of reference, clarifying responsibilities among participating ministries, and capacitating members. To facilitate stronger leadership and coordination on AMR, activities include supporting bi-annual meetings of the AMR-CCM technical secretariat with the One Health platform, TWG meetings, and the development of a framework for monitoring NAP implementation.
Strengthening governance for IPC
After assisting in conducting a situational analysis on IPC activities in Cameroon, MTaPS will support the development and dissemination of IPC guidelines for the human and animal health sectors. This work will serve as a first step toward establishing a national IPC program in Cameroon.
Strengthening institutional and HR capacity to manage IPC
MTaPS is collaborating with World Health Organization (WHO) and national counterparts to conduct a baseline assessment of national and facility-level IPC programs and practice and to develop and implement a national IPC action plan. Other activities include assisting the country to organize a training of trainers on IPC in the human and animal health sectors and working with the Ministry of Health to draft IPC guidelines and help IPC champions in selected health facilities to implement them.
Improving IPC practices and services
MTaPS and Ministry of Health experts are working together to support the master trainers and facility-level champions to set up IPC committees in these selected health facilities using a quality improvement approach. With assistance, these facilities can generate data on incident infections and serve as learning sites and models for scaling-up.
Strengthening governance for AMS
MTaPS is assisting the AMR-CCM and stakeholders in developing and implementing a national plan to strengthen AMS in the human and animal health. This includes conducting a situational analysis of the management and use of antimicrobials; developing a national AMS plan to strengthen enforcement; reviewing the essential medicines list according to the WHO access, watch, and reserve categories; and updating guidelines promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials. In addition, MTaPS is supporting the establishment of Drug and Therapeutics Committees in selected health facilities.
