[Formative supervision: the experience of treatment units during cholera epidemic in Douala, Cameroon].

Formative supervision is a quality and performance tool based on evaluation and adult training techniques. The 2004 cholera outbreak in Douala (Cameroon) presented a critical problem in terms of quality of care; formative supervision emerged as the choice of instrument developed as a key response and solution. After a chronological qualitative description of how the supervision team and system were constituted, established and organized, the results are presented: strengthening infrastructure, equipment and organisation; improving the quality of care, hygiene, communication, and management.

[Service quality assurance by death analysis during the 2004 cholera outbreak in Douala].

Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMC) are used today in most medical departments as a tool for quality assurance as well as an educational tool. We introduced MMC with regard to cholera lethality during the 2004 cholera outbreak in Douala. The Delegation of Public Health (DPH) in Douala, coordinating body for the combat against the epidemic, decided to open cholera treatment units (CTU) in fourteen hospitals, equally distributed over the town.