Cameroon: Navigating Epidemics and Disinformation

Cameroon’s health and media environment is of strategic importance, as the nation confronts the dual pressures of recurrent epidemics and a pervasive wave of health disinformation. The country’s experience offers a microcosm of the challenges facing much of the continent: a fragile health system tested by repeated outbreaks and a public trust deficit exacerbated by misinformation.

The following analysis synthesises the expert perspectives of a journalist from a global media platform focused on science, health, and development, a health and environment journalist at a daily newspaper, and the editor of a weekly health media outlet to provide a clear picture of the Cameroonian landscape.

Recurrent epidemics and systemic weaknesses

Cameroonian experts identify three interconnected health challenges that expose critical vulnerabilities in the nation’s public health infrastructure. The media landscape is dominated by coverage of infectious disease outbreaks, including Mpox, cholera, measles, and Lassa fever. Experts note that the spread of these epidemics consistently exposes the deep-seated fragility of the health system, which struggles to mount rapid and appropriate responses, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.

Beyond specific diseases, the system itself is a central challenge. This includes an insufficient number of health facilities, technical platforms that are often defective or have low capacity, and a critical shortage of qualified health personnel. These foundational gaps undermine any effective public health response.

The dual burden of disease

Cameroon is grappling with the concurrent rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as cancers, diabetes, and hypertension—which are exploding due to sedentary lifestyles and urbanisation. This “new silent epidemic” is layered on top of the persistent burden of endemic infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, as well as unresolved issues in maternal and child health and a growing, taboo-laden mental health crisis.

The lingering impact of COVID-19

The after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be profoundly felt in Cameroon, shaping public psychology, straining the health system, and eroding trust in science. A significant psychological hangover persists: experts describe a widespread fear and anxiety where any flu-like symptoms trigger the fear of COVID-19.

“[COVID-19] has greatly affected our mental health. When there are episodes of flu or cold, there is always this fear of being confronted with COVID-19.”

— Journalist, global media platform focused on science, health, and development

The pandemic necessitated a significant reallocation of budgets to address the COVID-19 emergency. This came at the expense of other critical programmes, such as routine childhood vaccinations and community health initiatives, creating delays and backlogs that the system is still struggling to overcome. The wave of misinformation that accompanied the pandemic has also left a lasting legacy of distrust, with a segment of the population remaining wary of vaccines, health institutions, and scientific authorities.

The evolving media landscape and journalist support

The fight against health disinformation has become a central mission for journalists. To reach wider audiences, especially young people, there is a clear trend toward utilising online platforms (Facebook, X, TikTok) and adopting multimedia formats, such as podcasts and short videos. Concurrently, there is a growing emphasis on explanatory journalism—contextualising data and fact-checking rumors—to build public understanding.

To perform their roles effectively, journalists require concrete support. This includes establishing formal collaboration platforms with health agencies for periodic exchanges, easier access to reliable information, specialised training on topics like epidemiology and ethics, and, critically, funding for in-depth investigative reporting that newsrooms often cannot afford.

Navigating funding shifts and strengthening African narratives

Changes in donor countries’ funding policies have had heavy and direct consequences on key health projects. Experts specifically cite a negative impact on programmes targeting malaria and HIV/AIDS, as well as environmental preservation initiatives, leaving populations in distress. This has forced a national conversation about the need for endogenous financing to avoid dependency on external aid.

“This forces us, African countries, to think seriously about endogenous financing and to stop depending almost exclusively on external aid for our health priorities.”

— Editor, weekly health media outlet

To guarantee better representation of African voices, experts propose a clear set of strategies designed to shift the narrative from one of Africa as a “backdrop of crises” to one of Africa as an “actor of solutions”:

• Give African experts a voice in articles, on television panels, and at international conferences.
• Cite African sources and promote research carried out by Africans.
• Involve local actors by highlighting the results of their research and experiences.