WBW 2013 In North West Of Cameroon

By Kingsley Andang, Nutrition Focal Point

According to the EDS-MICS 2011 survey, Cameroon recorded 122‰ under five deaths, with one out of three deaths due to inadequate breastfeeding practices. However, applying good breastfeeding practices guarantee a good start in the child's life, especially when it is practiced exclusively for the first six months as recommended by UNICEF, WHO and MOH. Reducing the number of under 5 deaths and juvenile diseases is therefore a development factor taken into account the overall objectives of the WHO which stipulate that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months must be at least 50 % by 2025 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted from 1991 to 2011 showed a progressive rise in the rate exclusive breastfeeding up to six months between 1991 and 2004. cameroon noticed a drop from 2006 to 2011 with only 20% of children exclusively breastfed.The progressive rise observed up to 2004 can be explained by the setting up of the National Breastfeeding Policy validated in 1994 by the Minister of Public Health and the sensitization of communities and Health staff during the World Breastfeeding Weeks (WBW). Cameroon joined the rest of the international community to celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), 2013 edition. A week of activities in which all those involved in the child and mother health are working hard to attract the attention of the population on the importance of breastfeeding. The activities of this 21th edition of the World Breastfeeding Week with the theme " Breastfeeding Support: Close to mothers " will place particular emphasis on providing ongoing support to the breastfeeding mothers from her immediate environment, and those around her.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE The main goal of World Breastfeeding Week 2013 is to increase support to mothers so that they can practice optimal breastfeeding. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES  Draw support to the importance of peer support in helping mothers to establish and sustain breastfeeding.  Provide essential information to peers (partners, grandmothers, sisters, health staff, friends……..etc.) on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.  Raise awareness on the existence of Decree No. 01 Dec.2005 2005/5168/PM regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes. METHODOLOGY  Setting up of a Regional committee to pilot the activities of the week  Preparatory meetings  Regional and press briefings  Radio talk shows and quizzes  IEC in ANCs, IWCs, Training schools for health personnel, Focus groups, Regional Delegations  Discussions/questions and answer sessions  Video projection/power point projections ACTIVITIES PROPER FOR WBW Several activities were carried out before, within and after the world breastfeeding week. Before the week A Regional Committee was set up to pilot the affairs of the Week and this committee was made up of representatives of the Associations, Representative of the Regional Delegate of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Focal Point of Nutrition and Communication of the Delegation of Health and Presided by representative of the Regional Delegate of Public Health. (see annex for minute and attendance sheet). From its first preparatory meeting, associations were urged to establish a chronogram of activities and that a Service note sign by the Regional Delegate of Public Health instructing District Medical Officers to organize activities in their various Districts. Social mobilization materials were received from FECABPA and it was resolved that PF Nutrition and communication should make a distribution plan and effectively distribute before the commencement of the activities proper. On the occasion of the Rural Women’s Day organized by the Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family on the 14/10/2013 at the Bamendankwe Fon’s Palace,the region team used it as an opportunity and sensitized women’s group on breastfeeding and the important of peers to a breastfeeding mother.

During the week The last preparatory meeting was held on 8 November 2013 with stakeholders where SOCMOB materials were dispatched, financial support to the two associations and attendance and justification documents made available to the associations. • On 9 November 2013, a radio talk and a quiz were organized over radio Ndefcam and Focal Point Nutrition, Focal Point Communication, and a communicator from HEDECS as resource persons. • 13 November 2013, sensitization in two Training Schools for Health Personnel: Full Gospel Schools for Health Personnel and Training School for Midwifery Bamenda. There was powerpoint presentation on the theme, video projection and presentation on the regulation of the marketing of breastmilk substitutes in Cameroon. The keen attention and questions and answers that followed showed the interest of these future health workers on the subject. Social materials were handed to the school authorities and fliers to the students present. • 14 November 2013, sensitization, questions and answers and symbolic prizes awarded to some mothers, fathers, grandmothers and some baby- sitters at the IWC of the Regional Hospital in Bamenda. Later that day there was sensitization of leaders of women’s groups at the Conference hall of the Regional Delegation of MINPROFF presided by the Regional Delegate, where there were presentations, video presentations and questions and answers. Posters, T – shirts, fliers were distributed and these women groups opted to advocate for breastfeeding in their various groups. • Sensitization of members of the Regional Chapter of ACADIA (Cameroon Association for Diabetes) on the occasion of the world diabetes day at Nkwen Baptist centre. • 15 November 2013, sensitization of Nutrition counselors of the Nutrition Improvement Program of the CBC on the occasion of their annual evaluation meeting at the Mbingo Annex Nkwen, Bamenda. They were told to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in their various posts and as peer counselors in the community. • 16 November 2013, radio talk show and quiz over Radio Hot Cocoa with three resource persons: PF Nutrition and communication, and communicator from HEDECS. SWOT ANALYSIS For this year’s excercise, we had the following strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats ; Strength  Involvement of the districts via the District Medical Officers and the Districts Focal Points for communications.  Full commitment and involvement of the Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family.  The desire expressed for the didactic talks on breastfeeding by the adminstration and students of some Training Schools for Health Personnel in the region.  Active participation of the community media in disseminating the information and the organisation of the quizzes on breastfeeding Weaknesses  Insufficient supervision of the associations involved in the exercise Opportunities  Celebration of the Rural Women’s Day was judiciously exploited to educate several women’s groups on the importance of breastfeeding.  nnual evaluation meeting of nutrition counsellors of the NIP of the CBC Health Board was exploited to emphasize the importance of breastfeeding in infant and young child nutrition.  Celebration of World Diabetes Day was also an opportunity exploited as breastfed children having lower risk of developing diabetes in later life. Threats  Several postponements of the week that somewhat lulled the zeal and enthusiasm that usually surround the week in the first week of August.  Insufficient financial package and late arrival of funds for media coverage.  Insufficient social mobilisation materials that couldnot cover all the health facilities in the 19 health districts of the region. Recommendations  Health Districts should be effectively involved in the annual event for a wider coverage and health staff at all level should be recycled in the aspects of infant and young child feeding.  Planning of the activity should be bottom-top and not the reverse.  More Media organs and National Language Broadcasters should be involved for wider sensitization.  More related sectors such as the Social Affairs, Councils, both Traditioner and Religious leaders etc should be actively involved.  Their should be the development of data collection tool that will help to have information on the indicators of breastfeeding Conclusion Despite above mentioned shortcomings and belated celebration, the activities of the world breastfeeding week 2013 in the North West region witnessed a broader spectrum and more intensified as more than ever before. During this week, many more women and men were sensitized and counselled on the benefits of optimal breastfeeding and their questions were answered. We conducted a variety of activities to reach as many women as possible, and in some local languages. With proper planning and availability of adequate resources, it is hoped that our activities in the subsequent years will yield more benefits and sustainable impacts.