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Organization Contact Information | |
| Name: | Alliance for Community Initiative |
| Street 1: | Maligo |
| Street 2: | |
| City: | Buea |
| Province: | Southwest |
| Post Code: | |
| Country: | Cameroon |
| Phone: | 687559338 |
| Organization Email: | info@afci-cam.org |
| Web Site: | http://afci-cam.org |
| Other Online Presence: | https://linkedin.com/in/allianceforci https://facebook.com/allianceforci https://twitter.com/forinnitiative https://instagram.com/allianceforci |
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General Information | |
| Board Constituency: | None |
| Is your organization legally registered in your country: | Yes |
| If yes, please enter your registration number: | G.39/SAAJP/D14/5/63 |
| Organization Type - Primary: | Non-Governmental Organization |
| Organization Type - Secondary: | Community-Based Organization (CBO) |
| Organization Description: | |
| Alliance for Community Initiative (AfCI) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities by promoting access to essential healthcare services, advocating for social justice, and enhancing public health awareness. We focus on addressing health disparities, particularly in underserved communities, through education, advocacy, and community-based interventions. Our work spans multiple health issues, with a commitment to strengthening local healthcare systems and empowering individuals to take charge of their own health. Interest in Tuberculosis (TB): AfCI is deeply concerned about the continued burden of tuberculosis (TB), especially in high-risk and resource-limited settings. TB remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its impact is disproportionately felt by vulnerable populations, including those with compromised immune systems, people living in poverty, and communities with limited access to healthcare. We are committed to combating TB through awareness, prevention, and treatment initiatives, aligning with our mission to improve public health and reduce health inequalities. What We Are Doing or Planning to Do for TB Control: AfCI is actively engaged in raising awareness about TB prevention, detection, and treatment options within the communities we serve. We are currently involved in organizing community outreach programs that focus on educating individuals about TB symptoms, transmission, and the importance of seeking early medical intervention. We are also working on strengthening collaboration with local health authorities and NGOs to ensure that TB treatment is accessible and that patients adhere to their treatment regimens. Moving forward, we plan to expand our efforts by conducting TB screenings, improving diagnostic access, and advocating for better TB care within public health policies to support long-term control and eventual elimination of TB in our targeted communities. By focusing on these areas, we aim to reduce the impact of TB, improve early d |
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| Do you know about the UNHLM declaration: | |
Specializations / Areas of Work | |
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Advocacy Civil Society and Community Engagement Delivery of health services and care Provision of drugs, diagnostics and commodities Working on Community, Rights and Gender (CRG) Working on Key Populations related to TB |
Other Organization Information | |
| Total number of staff in your organization: | 11 - 25 |
| Number of full-time staff who are directly involved with TB: | 6 - 10 |
| Number of part-time staff who are directly involved with TB: | 0 |
| Number of volunteers who are directly involved with TB: | 11 - 25 |
| How did you hear about the Stop TB Partnership: | Involvement in TB control provision |
| If you were informed or referred by another partner of the Stop TB Partnership please tell us who: | |
| Why do you wish join the Stop TB Partnership: | Involvement in Stop TB Working Groups |
| Are you a member of a Stop TB national partnership: | No |
| Are you in contact with your national TB programme: | |
| Please tell us how your organization is contributing to your country's national TB control plan: | |
| Alliance for Community Initiative (AfCI) is actively contributing to our country’s national tuberculosis (TB) control plan through a variety of community-centered initiatives that align with national strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat TB. Our contributions are focused on both raising awareness and enhancing access to TB care, with a particular emphasis on underserved populations. Community-Based Awareness Campaigns: We organize outreach programs to educate communities about TB symptoms, transmission, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. By partnering with local health authorities, we amplify national TB messaging and promote preventive measures in hard-to-reach areas, helping reduce stigma and increase public understanding of TB. TB Screening and Referral Services: ACI conducts TB screening campaigns to identify individuals at high risk, ensuring early detection and prompt referral for treatment. This is in line with the national goal of increasing case detection and reducing undiagnosed cases. We facilitate the referral of individuals to local health facilities for diagnostic testing and ensure they receive proper follow-up care. Advocacy and Policy Support: We advocate for improved access to TB care and work to influence policies that support TB control efforts at the local and national levels. Our focus is on strengthening health systems, ensuring that TB treatment services are accessible, and pushing for more inclusive and equitable health policies that align with the national TB control plan. Supporting Treatment Adherence: Through community support groups and counseling services, AfffCI helps ensure that individuals undergoing TB treatment adhere to their regimens. By promoting treatment completion and reducing the risk of drug resistance, we contribute to the national goal of improving treatment success rates. Collaboration with Health Authorities and Partners: AfCI works in close collaboration with local health departments, national TB programs, and other NGOs to support TB control initiatives. We participate in national TB forums, contribute to the development of educational materials, and help with the implementation of national TB campaigns. Through these efforts, AfCI is helping to advance the country’s TB control plan, focusing on prevention, early detection, and improving access to treatment, all of which are critical to the national strategy to reduce the burden of TB. |
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Geographical Reach | |
| Which country is your headquarters located in: | Unknown |
| Which countries do you do operate in: (This includes countries you are conducting activities in) |
Cameroon |
Contribution | |
| Please tell us how your organization will contribute to the Global Plan to Stop TB by briefly describing its involvement in any of the areas of work listed below: | |
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TB Care Delivery: AfCI is actively involved in advocating for improved TB care and increasing awareness of TB prevention and treatment through community-based social mobilization efforts. In 2023 and 2024, we conducted a series of community outreach campaigns in collaboration with local health authorities in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. These efforts were aimed at reducing TB stigma, educating communities about TB symptoms, and emphasizing the importance of seeking early medical care. We utilized local media, community health workers, and peer educators to spread accurate information on TB prevention and care, ensuring that individuals are empowered to act early if they suspect TB. Our social mobilization activities also focus on ensuring that TB services are accessible to all, including the most vulnerable populations. Through these efforts, we have helped raise awareness among over 5,000 community members and contributed to increasing public engagement in TB care programs. Future Plans: We plan to expand these advocacy efforts by launching a nationwide TB awareness campaign in partnership with government agencies and other organizations in 2025. This will include radio and television broadcasts, social media outreach, and the training of more peer educators to help break the stigma surrounding TB and ensure widespread knowledge of available treatment options. TB-HIV: AfCI recognizes the critical link between TB and HIV, as people living with HIV are at a higher risk of developing TB. To address this, we have integrated TB-HIV care in our community-based programs, particularly targeting people living with HIV. Since 2022, AfCI has worked closely with local HIV support groups and health clinics to provide combined TB and HIV awareness sessions, emphasizing the need for co-testing, co-treatment, and adherence to both TB and HIV regimens. We have conducted joint TB-HIV screening and counseling events, where individuals are tested for both diseases, and referred to appropriate care. In our outreach programs, we have identified and referred over 200 individuals for both TB and HIV care, helping to ensure that people living with HIV are not only tested for TB but also linked to appropriate treatment services. Future Plans: In 2025, AfCI plans to scale up TB-HIV integration by expanding testing and treatment services through mobile health units to reach rural and hard-to-reach communities. This will help reduce the dual burden of TB and HIV, ensuring that individuals receive timely treatment for both conditions. Additionally, we aim to strengthen collaboration with national HIV programs to integrate TB education into existing HIV awareness campaigns. New Diagnostics: AfCI supports the introduction of new diagnostic tools to improve TB detection, particularly in resource-limited settings. Since 2023, we have been involved in a pilot project in the Limbe Health District to promote the use of GeneXpert and other rapid diagnostic tools. These technologies help detect TB more quickly and accurately, allowing for earlier treatment and reducing the risk of transmission. We have trained local health workers on the use of these tools and facilitated the procurement and deployment of diagnostic equipment to health centers. Future Plans: As part of our contribution to the Global Plan to Stop TB, AfCI plans to advocate for the widespread adoption of new diagnostics in Cameroon, especially in rural areas where TB detection is often delayed. In 2025, we intend to roll out a series of training workshops for health professionals in partnership with national TB programs, ensuring that at least 50 health facilities in the Southwest Region are equipped with the latest diagnostic tools and that staff are fully trained to use them effectively. This will improve early diagnosis and treatment initiation, directly contributing to the reduction of TB incidence and mortality. |
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Declaration | |
| Declaration of interests: No conflicts of interest were delacred. | |
| Application date: | February 3, 2025 |
| Last updated: | February 3, 2025 |