The poignant testimony of a man who narrowly escaped disaster by self-medicating to treat malaria shook the Baka community of Nkolbikon during an educational talk organized in the community.
Organized as part of the Equité Accès Palu (EAP) project, the meeting was held on Friday, September 13, 2025, in partnership with the civil society organization (CSO) ADES. Its aim was to raise awareness among local populations about the risks of self-medication, a phenomenon that is still prevalent in this community. During the discussions, the 18 participants, including six pregnant women, four caregivers, and eight men, learned about the dangers of treatments received without medical advice and what to do in case of malaria.
One of the highlights of the discussions was the account of a participant who shared his unfortunate experience. As both a perpetrator and victim of self-medication, he suffered from itching all over his body for two weeks, even thinking he had been cursed. Deeply affected by what he had learned, he solemnly pledged never to buy drugs on the street again and to go directly to the health center from now on. This commitment reinforces the spirit of the EAP project, which aims to guarantee all communities, including the most vulnerable, equitable access to quality health services and products.
In short, the discussions enabled community members to better understand the dangers of self-medication and to realize the importance of seeking early treatment from the health system in the event of unusual symptoms.
