Since July 2014, the Cameroon Government implemented free treatment of severe malaria in children under five. There is paucity of information on the level of implementation of such a policy in health facilities in the country. The objective of this study was to determine the level of implementation of free treatment of severe malaria in children under five in the Bamenda health district from July 2014 to June 2015. A hospital base cross sectional descriptive study was conducted, using purposive sampling method to choose 23 health facilities in the District. Data was collected using a semi-structure questionnaire from 22 consulting health personnel and 15 parents/guardians of children under five in October 2015 with a retrospective collection in consultation registers. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. All the 22 interviewed health personnel had received training on the management of severe malaria and were informed and knowledgeable on the policy. Only 8 (36%) of the health facilities had a specific register for the follow up of severe malaria in children under five. 8 (36%) health facilities had a shortage of artemether between July 2014 to June 2015. Artemether was the drug frequently used for first line treatment (96%). The proportion of children under five treated with artemether and quinine were 56% and 27% respectively. 2 (13%) of the parents/guardians of under-five were informed on the free treatment policy and non-had their child treated free during the data collection period. Free treatment of severe malaria in under-five has not been effectively implemented as stipulated by policy. An elaborate plan of following up its implementation in health facilities should be done by means of massive sensitization of the population on the policy.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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