How Cameroon Struggled to Preserve Its Malaria Program After U.S. Funding Was Drastically Cut
Abdul Aziz Adamou rushed his son Mohammadou through the bustling hospital, and the child remained motionless. A slight 3-year-old, Mohammadou was so ill that he did not react when a nurse pricked his finger to collect a drop of blood for a malaria screening. His mother, Nafisa, watched anxiously, her long blue veil fluttering as she shifted from foot to foot. The previous day, he had been vomiting and drenched in fever-induced sweat; during the night, convulsions had caused his tiny limbs to go rigid. At dawn, his parents mounted their family motorcycle and traveled 20 miles over bumpy dirt roads to reach a hospital in Maroua, located in northern Cameroon. The malaria screening came back positive. Within moments, a health aide administered an injection of artesunate, the treatment recommended by the World Health Organization for the disease. Over the course of the next day, Mohammadou received two additional injections and became alert enough to voice his discontent. Mr. Adamou smiled, picking him up to keep him steady. After three days, he was well enough to return home. The life-saving medication was supplied by the United States, through a program that has significantly lowered malaria fatalities here and in other parts of Africa. However, in February, the Trump administration terminated much of this initiative, claiming that most international aid was ineffective. The availability of artesunate shrank. By the time Mohammadou received it a few weeks ago, it had reached a value nearly akin to gold in northern Cameroon. This area maintains one of the highest malaria death rates globally. Yet dedicated efforts and American support led to a reduction of nearly 60 percent in the rate in the far north between 2017 and 2024. Nonetheless, this year, the chaotic developments thousands of miles away in Washington created turmoil, resulting in more children falling ill, as parents grew anxious, and public health professionals who established this program fought desperately to salvage what they could. The fact that Mohammadou was able to obtain artesunate reflects the commitment of local healthcare workers, many of whom have performed their duties without pay for months; some last-minute emergency funding from a handful of new donors; and no small measure of chance.
Published: 2025-12-28 13:45:00
source: www.nytimes.com
