Summary
Baseline surveys carried out between 1985 and 1987 revealed that the overall prevalence of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm in school-age children was 42.6%, 53.4% and 14.7%, respectively. STH control activities are coordinated by a partnership called the National Program for Control of Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Helminthiasis. The partnership is headed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and encourages multi-sectoral coordination of STH control activities with representation from the following ministries: Scientific and Technical Research; Agriculture; and Mines Water and Power. Prior to the donation of mebendazole, deworming activities were implemented in only one of the ten provinces of Cameroon, and only a portion of at-risk children were treated. As a result of the first donation in 2007, deworming activities were increased to encompass all ten provinces, which resulted in a 20-fold increase of at-risk children treated.