Faced with the explosion of chronic diseases in Cameroon and across the continent, Patient Therapeutic Education (PTE) is emerging as an essential response. With this in mind, the first symposium on patient therapeutic education in Sub-Saharan Africa will take place from October 29 to 30 in Yaoundé.
At the heart of contemporary health challenges, the epidemiological transition in Sub-Saharan Africa poses an unprecedented challenge: the constant increase in long-term illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and HIV. Faced with treatments often prescribed for life, conventional medicine reveals its limitations when the patient remains a passive observer. It is to address this urgent need that the National and International Network of Chronic Disease Counselors/Educators of Cameroon and Africa (RENACC) is intensifying its efforts in support of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE).
A fundamental paradigm shift
Therapeutic Patient Education is neither a simple consultation nor a series of medical guidelines. It is a continuous process, integrated into care, that aims to help patients acquire or maintain the skills they need to better manage their lives with a chronic illness. It enables patients to understand their condition, take ownership of their treatment, prevent avoidable complications, and adapt their lifestyle independently.
For populations, the benefits of TPE are considerable. An educated patient is a
patient who adheres better to their treatment, reduces their risk of emergency hospitalizations, and maintains a much better quality of personal and professional life. From an economic perspective, Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) relieves families of the financial burden of serious medical complications and alleviates pressure on often overcrowded hospitals.
Large-scale training sessions and gatherings in Yaoundé
To firmly establish this practice in local medical practices, RENACC, in collaboration with IPCEM in Paris, is organizing Initial Training in Therapeutic Patient Education. This enhanced session will take place in two parts in Yaoundé: from October 12 to 16, and then from October 19 to 23, 2026. Designed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and educators, it aims to equip healthcare professionals with the pedagogical and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively support patients with chronic illnesses.
Building on this momentum, Yaoundé will host the 1st Symposium on Therapeutic Patient Education in Sub-Saharan Africa on October 29 and 30, 2026, at the Yaoundé IV Ekounou District Town Hall. Held under the patronage of the Minister of Public Health and the sponsorship of Professor Anne Esther Njom Nlend, this scientific event will bring together policymakers, experts, and practitioners around a central theme: “Therapeutic Patient Education: A Lever for Improving the Management of Chronic Diseases in Africa.”
This symposium will provide an opportunity to share African experiences, create a strong continental network, and raise awareness among policymakers about the systematic integration of TPE into our healthcare systems. The call for papers is open until September 15, 2026.
The rise of Therapeutic Education marks a historic turning point for public health in Cameroon and Africa: transforming medical care to empower patients to take control of their own health.
