Gathered in Yaoundé on July 15, 2026, nearly 100 experts, researchers, and students focused on the crucial importance of quantifying viral load. This represents a major diagnostic advancement for optimizing patient care.
In Cameroon, the fight against viral hepatitis B and C is a top priority for the authorities. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Health, a postgraduate training course (EPU) was held last weekend in Yaoundé. The objective? To highlight the importance of viral load in the management of these silent killers. Until now, national screening remained primarily qualitative (determining whether the virus is present). However, given the evolution of medicine, precise viral load quantification is now essential as the crucial link to a cure.
An essential clinical marker
« Viral load is the key to determining whether someone has an active infection. »“Measuring the amount of virus in the blood allows clinicians to make a reliable diagnosis, but above all, to guide treatment decisions,” explains Dr. Eric Pascal Tchoumi Leuwat, a hepatogastroenterologist at Yaoundé Central Hospital. For hepatitis B, initiating antiretroviral therapy is subject to strict criteria, combining viral load, clinical status, and the degree of liver damage. This rigorous biological monitoring makes it possible to distinguish patients requiring immediate treatment from those who can
benefit from monitoring or spontaneous recovery, thus preventing dramatic complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Revolutionizing access to diagnosis: the challenge of decentralization
The major challenge in this fight remains the geographical and financial accessibility of testing. Long centralized at the Pasteur Center alone, molecular biology tests are undergoing a true territorial revolution. Thanks to a solid public-private partnership established in 2014 between the Ministry of Health and the socially responsible company Bioecoms Sarl (associated with the giant Roche), the network is expanding.
Five multiplex molecular biology platforms capable of simultaneously quantifying HIV, hepatitis B and C, Mpox, and chlamydia are already operational in Yaoundé, Bertoua, Garoua, and Maroua. The western and southern regions will be equipped in the coming days. The stated ambition is clear: to equip all 10 regions of the country by 2030.
Towards reduced costs and real-time results
For Armel Kamwa, CEO of Bioecoms, this expansion of the territorial network has a specific goal: to increase the volume of orders in order to drastically reduce the cost of viral load testing for the average patient. Furthermore, these cutting-edge technologies allow for real-time results (in less than 24 minutes on the platform), reducing the waiting time for patients to less than 24 hours.
By combining scientific rigor and logistical efficiency, Cameroon is laying the groundwork for effective mass screening. This synergy of stakeholders aims to bring the country closer to the government’s objective: reducing the number of patients living with hepatitis B and C to zero.
Interview
« Viral hepatitis B has an extremely effective vaccine in Cameroon. »
In an exclusive interview with our editorial team, the permanent secretary of the National Committee for the Fight Against AIDS provides an update on the fight against viral hepatitis in Cameroon. He also discusses patient care mechanisms.
Mr. Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for the Fight against AIDS (CNLS), what conclusions can be drawn from this meeting organised by the Cameroonian Society of Gastroenterology (SCGE)?
Indeed, on the instructions of His Excellency the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Cameroon has committed to the goal of eliminating hepatitis B. At the National AIDS Control Committee level, we have implemented a triple elimination program for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis in pregnant women, in order to optimize the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of these three infections of public health concern. In this context, the Minister of Health has deployed decentralized care centers to promote access to viral hepatitis treatment in all regions of Cameroon, while ensuring the integration of these diseases into optimized services. Following the directives of the Ministry of Public Health, this meeting brought together gastroenterology experts, national program managers, and gynecologists. The aim was to ensure a clear understanding of ministerial guidelines, to enable clinicians to master the clinical and virological interpretation of the various tests available in the country, and to define measures to facilitate the prescription of these diagnostic tests and the monitoring of viral load in the Cameroonian context. Discussions within the Cameroonian Society of Gastroenterology thus addressed the challenges of patient care, the epidemiological context, diagnostic challenges, and led to the formulation of key recommendations for the country.
At the conclusion of this scientific exchange session, we first noted the
establishment of a quarterly multidisciplinary platform for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of viral hepatitis B and other hepatitis infections, in order to regularly adapt our practices to the national context. Furthermore, we will implement indicators to assess the viral load test prescription rate for Cameroonian beneficiaries, in a geographical context where these tests are becoming increasingly accessible for hepatitis B and C. Finally, strong measures were taken to ensure that the topics discussed during this session become key and innovative areas of research. We strongly encouraged our young researchers, residents, and students to integrate these issues into their work within the various research institutions in Cameroon, in order to generate evidence-based data that will guide policy decisions and gradually lead us toward the elimination of viral hepatitis.
Doctor, in terms of figures, what is the current situation regarding the fight against viral hepatitis in Cameroon?
In general, viral hepatitis exists in five distinct types: hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Among these different forms, we primarily focus on hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to their propensity to develop into chronic forms. Conversely, viral hepatitis A and E are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, and their recovery is natural or spontaneous during the acute phase, without risk of chronicity. Viral hepatitis D, although less frequently discussed, remains important because it can only develop in the presence of hepatitis B; the B virus is a necessary condition for the existence of the Delta virus, which implies focusing on screening for B in order to identify D in positive carriers. From a public health perspective in Cameroon, the prevalence of viral hepatitis B exceeds the critical threshold of 8%, placing our country in a highly endemic zone with a major risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma for individuals with an active infection. In contrast, viral hepatitis C has a prevalence of less than 1%, as it primarily affects people aged 65 and over. Cameroon is thus moving towards the elimination of hepatitis C thanks to highly effective treatment protocols that allow for complete recovery in a maximum of 3 to 6 months. Given that hepatitis C already has a curative treatment and a low prevalence, the majority of public health efforts must be invested in eliminating viral hepatitis B. Faced with this high national endemicity, it is crucial to test at-risk individuals, with a focus on pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission and protect the child.
It is important to emphasize that a child exposed to hepatitis B at a very high risk of developing liver cancer in adulthood if infected at birth. Therefore, we want to ensure that all at-risk individuals in Cameroon have access to rigorous screening and appropriate care if they test positive. For those who receive a negative result, the very good news is that there is a highly effective vaccine for hepatitis B, the use of
which we strongly encourage for all Cameroonians. However, before receiving vaccination, it remains essential to undergo screening to confirm a negative result before accessing the doses available in our healthcare system.
What mechanisms are in place by the government to ensure proper treatment for people with hepatitis?
Indeed, the Ministry of Public Health works closely with the network of Cameroonian gastroenterologists, who advise the Ministry on the specific needs and challenges related to patients with hepatitis B. In this context, the government has established a fund to combat the disease, enabling the purchase of hepatitis B tests and offering them at a flat rate of 2,000 CFA francs per beneficiary, representing a very significant subsidy. In parallel, the CHAMP project, led by the Ministry’s Directorate of Studies and Projects, allows for the acquisition of additional supplies and reagents to optimize the care of patients suffering from viral hepatitis in our context. All of these measures aim to facilitate universal access to hepatitis B treatments, and we plan to fully integrate these services into the Universal Health Coverage package in the very near future to further optimize access to services already operational throughout the country.
