For a lot of girls in Cameroon, childbirth stays a major well being threat. Regardless of medical developments, the nation continues to have one of many highest maternal and toddler mortality charges within the area. In 2020, an estimated 438 girls per 100,000 dwell births died from pregnancy-related issues, in keeping with the World Financial institution’s Gender Knowledge Portal. Whereas maternal mortality declined barely to 406 deaths per 100,000 dwell births in 2022, progress has been sluggish, and maternal well being challenges persist.
Restricted entry to high quality reproductive healthcare, excessive adolescent being pregnant charges—the place 108 out of each 1,000 ladies aged 15-19 give delivery—and chronic vitamin gaps proceed to put the well being of moms and newborns in danger. With out pressing and sustained interventions, preventable deaths will proceed, inserting an excellent larger pressure on households and communities.
To deal with these challenges, Cameroon is ready to launch its five-year Nationwide Technique on Reproductive, Maternal, Youngster, Adolescent, and Vitamin Well being (RMNCAH-Nut) on March 13, 2025. Developed with help from Africa CDC and its companions, this technique—working from 2025 to 2030—aligns with world well being priorities, notably Sustainable Improvement Objective (SDG) 3 on well being and well-being. The plan focuses on strengthening maternal healthcare providers, enhancing knowledge assortment, enhancing coverage implementation, and fostering higher coordination amongst stakeholders.
Earlier than its official launch, Africa CDC performed a key function in supporting a technical validation workshop to refine the technique. The workshop introduced collectively 33 consultants, together with representatives from Cameroon’s Ministry of Well being and key companions, to make sure that the doc was scientifically sound, domestically related, and actionable on the nationwide degree.
“A part of Africa CDC’s mandate is to help nations in growing strategic well being plans that align with continental priorities. Cameroon is among the many first to finalize its technique, and it will function a mannequin for different African nations. We are actually getting ready for the official launch and mobilizing sources for efficient implementation,” defined Fidel Gabo, Head of the Reproductive, Maternal, New child, Youngster, and Adolescent Well being Division at Africa CDC.
Cameroon’s nationwide technique builds on broader continental efforts to help African Union Member States in strengthening reproductive well being insurance policies. Recognizing that girls and youngsters are 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 AU Member States. This framework focuses on essential areas, together with adolescent sexual and reproductive well being, maternal and new child well being, household planning, prevention and administration of reproductive system cancers, gender-based violence discount, and secure abortion care.
To make sure efficient implementation on the nationwide degree, a continental precedence evaluation recognized key gaps in reproductive well being financing, coverage frameworks, and healthcare workforce capability. As a part of a follow-up evaluation, Cameroon and Lesotho have been among the many first nations chosen for technical and monetary help to develop nationwide methods aligned with the broader continental framework.
To facilitate nationwide adoption, the technique has been translated into English to succeed in a wider viewers, together with policymakers, healthcare employees, civil society organizations, and native communities. A complete of 1,500 high-quality printed copies might be distributed throughout nationwide, regional, and district ranges to make sure accessibility for all stakeholders. The March 13 launch marks the start of a bigger effort to mobilize sources for efficient implementation throughout the nation. Africa CDC will proceed to collaborate with Cameroon’s Ministry of Well being to guarantee sustainable integration of reproductive well being providers into the nationwide major healthcare system. By prioritizing maternal and little one well being, this technique has the potential to avoid wasting hundreds of lives and construct a stronger, extra resilient healthcare system for future generations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (Africa CDC).
