For a lot of girls in Cameroon, childbirth stays a major threat to well being. Regardless of medical advances, the nation continues to have one of many highest maternal and little one mortality charges within the area. In 2020, it’s estimated that 438 girls per 100,000 residing births died of issues associated to being pregnant, based on the World Financial institution Gender Information Portal. Though maternal mortality decreased barely to 406 deaths per 100,000 residing births in 2022, progress has been gradual and maternal well being challenges persist.
Restricted entry to high quality reproductive well being, excessive teenage being pregnant charges, the place 108 out of each 1,000 ladies from 15 to 19 years of age give beginning, and chronic diet gaps proceed to place the well being of moms and newborns in danger. With out pressing and sustained interventions, preventable deaths will proceed, inserting a good larger stress in households and communities.
To deal with these challenges, Cameroon will launch its five-year nationwide technique on reproductive, maternal, little one, adolescent and diet welfare. The Plan focuses on strengthening maternal well being providers, enhancing information assortment, enhancing coverage implementation and selling higher coordination between events.
Earlier than its official launch, the CDC of Africa performed a key position within the help of a technical validation workshop to refine the technique. The workshop introduced collectively 33 consultants, together with representatives of the Ministry of Well being of Cameroon and key companions, to make sure that the doc was scientifically strong, related domestically and processable nationwide.
“A part of the CDC mandate in Africa is to help nations within the improvement of strategic well being plans which are aligned with continental priorities. Cameroon is likely one of the first to complete its technique, and it will function a mannequin for different African nations. Now we’re making ready for the official launch and the mobilization of assets for efficient implementation, ”stated Fidel Gabo, head of the reproductive, maternal, new child, little one and adolescent well being division in Africa CDC.
Cameroon’s nationwide technique is predicated on broader continental efforts to help the member states of the African Union to strengthen reproductive well being insurance policies. Recognizing that ladies and youngsters look disproportionately affected throughout well being emergencies, the African Union validated a five-year continental reproductive well being technique (2022-2026) with the participation of 42 Member States of the AU. This framework focuses on essential areas, together with the sexual and reproductive well being of adolescents, maternal and new child well being, household planning, prevention and administration of reproductive programs cancers, the discount of gender violence and protected abortion care.
To ensure an efficient implementation on the nationwide stage, a continental precedence analysis recognized the important thing gaps in reproductive well being financing, coverage frames and the capability of the well being workforce. As a part of a monitoring analysis, Cameroon and Lesotho had been among the many first nations chosen for technical and monetary help to develop nationwide methods aligned with the broader continental framework.
To facilitate adoption on the nationwide stage, the technique has been translated into English to achieve a broader viewers, together with political leaders, well being employees, civil society organizations and native communities. A complete of 1,500 prime quality printed copies shall be distributed nationwide, regional and district to ensure accessibility for all events. The launch of March 13 marks the start of a larger effort to mobilize assets for efficient implementation all through the nation. The CDC of Africa will proceed to collaborate with the Ministry of Well being of Cameroon to ensure the sustainable integration of reproductive well being providers within the Nationwide System of Main Well being Care. By prioritizing maternal and little one well being, this technique has the potential to save lots of 1000’s of lives and construct a stronger and extra resistant well being system for future generations.