title: Buruli Ulcer in Cameroon: The Development and Impact of the National Control Programme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cameroon is endemic for Buruli ulcer (BU) and organised institutional BU control began in 2002. The objective was to describe the evolution, achievements and challenges of the national BU control programme (NBUCP) and to make suggestions for scaling up the programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed collated data on BU from 2001 to 2014 and reviewed activity reports NBUCP in Cameroon. Case-detection rates and key BU control indicators were calculated and plotted on a time scale to determine trends in performance. A linear regression analysis of BU detection rate from 2005-2014 was done. The regression coefficient was tested statistically for the significance in variation of BU detection rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 14 years of BU control, 3700 cases were notified. The BU detection rate dropped significantly from 3.89 to 1.45 per 100 000 inhabitants. The number of BU endemic health districts rose from two to 64. Five BU diagnostic and treatment centres are functional and two more are planned for 2015. The health system has been strengthened and BU research and education has gained more interest in Cameroon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although institutional BU control Cameroon only began 30 years after the first cases were reported in 1969, a number of milestones have been attained. These would serve as stepping stones for charting the way forward and improving upon control activities in the country if the major challenge of resource allocation is dealt with.
authors.affiliation: National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; 2. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; 3. The University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; 4. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon,|Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.|Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Earnest Njih
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Tabah
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Dickson Shey
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nsagha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon; 2. Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.|Department of Neurology, Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bissek
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1; 2. Department of Neurology, Central Hospital, Yaounde,  Cameroon.|Regional Bureau for Africa of the FAIRMED Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Alfred Kongnyu
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Njamnshi
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Martin W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bratschi
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pluschke
authors.affiliation: Regional Bureau for Africa of the FAIRMED Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Alphonse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Um Boock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult