Mona Lisa Africa

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Cameroon

JULY 2008
The launch of the Mona Lisa CAMEROON Programme

As from 30 April 2008, the pilot phase of the MonaLisa Africa project includes a new participant: Cameroon.

In collaboration with the non-governmental group Equilibres et Populations, HRA Pharma has the opportunity to benefit from the existing PASSAGE project ("projet d'Approche Solidaire en Santé Génésique"), in the region of MAROUA in North Cameroon. This project of a unified approach to health genetics is under the able leadership of Dr Roger DONGMO (Gynaecologist and Director of the Passage project). Dr Dongmo gave us a clear picture of contraception in the region of Maroua and the place and role of the intra uterine device (IUD) in contraception.

In 2007 the most common method of contraception was the injection (2 774 listed cases), followed by the Pill (1 993 cases) and the implant (91 cases). The IUD is last on the list with only 26 cases noted.

The low numbers in usage of the IUD device are mainly due to the fact that women have reservations to a "foreign body" and that they have a preconceived idea that the cord of the IUD device might irritate their partner during sexual intercourse... To aggravate the situation, the untrained healthcare providers spread rumours about the inconveniences of the IUD device which they say could lead to the risk of perforation, displacement of the IUD, or pelvic infections.

Action plan of the Passage project

It is therefore clear that our main objective is to reinstate the IUD as a reliable means of contraception over a long period while being relatively well tolerated. The Laboratory expected to send off the first batch of IUD's during the month of June 2008:

  • On arrival, these devices will be distributed as integral part of the activities of the PASSAGE project. Three healthcare providers will be trained during three healthcare training sessions which will be taking place in the health centres of Dougoï, Domayo-DJarma, Djarengol-Kodek and Founangué.
  • Key information and notices on the availability of free IUD's will be introduced as part of the themes in community awareness developed for association partners in the project.
  • Posters related to the IUD will be placed in all health care centres and in public places.
  • Some of the district hospitals that are outside the Passage project area, but that have trained providers, will be equipped with IUD's as soon as the 1 000 devices are available.
  • The district medical services, the provincial health delegation will be involved in training providers in the collection of statistics and in supervision on the spot.
  • Distribution will be taken care of by members of the Passage project office (2 people) and every provider will be given a stock of 10 to 20 devices with instructions on renewal as soon as the expiration dates of the first 5 devices are reached.
  • Follow-up will be done during the various visits to the supervision centres, the collection of monthly data; at the renewal of the stock at the Passage offices.