title: [Funding of a free healthcare campaign in a rural district of Cameroon: optimizing the role of civil society in sub-Saharan Africa].
abstract: Financial barriers represent a major obstacle to access to health care in sub-Saharan Africa and thus to the implementation of the Bamako Initiative. We describe an experience in which a civil society organization financed a free healthcare campaign in a rural health district in Cameroon. In all, 2,073 patients received free consultations, laboratory tests, and drugs. Adults older than 40 years accounted for 55.7% of all patients. The most frequent diseases were: osteoarticular conditions (24.1%), malaria (20.8%), and intestinal parasitosis (12.5%). In health systems financed mainly by cost recovery, some population needs remain uncovered by health services. There is a need to involve and reinforce the role of civil society in health system financing. It can help to pool more funds and improve the management of health resources to increase financial access to health care for poor people.
authors.affiliation: Ministère de la santé publique, BP 31694, 31694 Yaoundé, Cameroun, Groupe associatif pour la recherche, l'éducation et la santé, GARES-Falaise, Dschang, Cameroun.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keugoung
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fouelifack Ymele
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dongtsa Mabou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nangue
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ngouadjio Kougoum
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Takoudjou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hercot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012380:Role; D012423:Rural Health; D012961:Sociology; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bamako Initiative; Cameroon; Sub-Saharan Africa; civil society; free medical care; healthcare financing