WBW 2013 In South West Region of Cameroon

By Emma Atangah in Buea,

World Breastfeeding Week 2013 briefing activity in Buea, the south west region of Cameroon was presided over by the regional delegate, Dr. Mbome Njie Victor, who started by explaining why the launching in Cameroon was late and not in the month of August, like in other parts of Africa. Dr. Mbome said, it was to permit preparation of the outreach materials produced by UNICEF, so the social mobilization and sensitization activities would reach many more women for impact. All stakeholders had to be involved in the campaigns after the regional workshops. The regional delegate observed that in the past years, the lack of awareness of the population has contributed to the rate of breastfeeding remaining low in Cameroon. Support of breastfeeding mothers is a multi-sectorial action and all of us should take part for results to be visible. He concluded by suggesting that to increase breastfeeding rates, the government should initiate the creation of breastmilk banks in health facilities, to care for babies, whose mothers did not have the opportunity to breastfeed. The creation of milk banks start with education of the nurses and midwives and the organization of public awareness campaigns, so mothers can donate their milk to save lives freely. The regional focal point for nutrition in the south west, Epie Kepche Gerard, revealed that in the last demographic survey of 2011, the region registered 7.212 cases of chronic malnutrition in children spread in the different health districts. Epie Gerard drilled the over 30 participants at the workshop on what they should know about breastfeeding, What the world breastfeeding week is all about, why Cameroon organizes the event each year, the objectives of the celebration, key programmed activities before, during and after the celebration. Cameroon focused attention on three of the five circles for multisectoral action, which include family and social networks, health care systems, work place and employment.

According to the EDS-MICS 2011 survey, Cameroon recorded 122% under five deaths, with one out of three deaths due to inadequate breastfeeding practices. He added, that with the application of good breastfeeding practices, a good start in the child’s life can be guaranteed, especially when practiced exclusively. Cameroon’s target is to increase breastfeeding rates to 50% by the year 2025. Since UNICEF reprinted the national code on the marketing of breastmilk substitute, emphasis was put on monitoring on the health facilities and marketing strategies put in place by the companies. The nutrition focal point told the media, that articles should be published on company bad practices which include penetration of health facilities, distribution of promotional gadgets and dumping. The President of FECABPA, James Achanyi-Fontem, used the opportunity of the briefing in Buea to talk about the challenges of breastfeeding and the strategy put in place to overcome the many challenges mothers and their communities face. He made a call for the involvement of youth because of the increasing number of teen mothers in Cameroon. Most of the girls are not prepared for a pregnancy and when it happens, they are also not prepared for breastfeeding their babies. He added that the preparation for successful breastfeeding starts from the period the woman gets pregnant and start pre-natal consultations and counseling in the health facility. It is during this period that the expectant mother is given all the necessary information and advice on how to face breastfeeding challenges. A big challenge is the misinformation of mothers who successfully birth their babies in some health facilities. The health workers introduce artificial breastmilk substitutes because of the tips and gadgets received from formulae manufacturing companies due to the number of brands competing in our markets. This is causing mothers not to respect one of the 10 conditions, which requires that the mother stays in the health facility with the baby for 48 hours before re-integrating the community. It is during this period that the health worker and midwife have to encourage the mother to initiate early breastfeeding, so the baby can benefit from the positive effects of colostrum.

The workshop in Buea talked about the Cameroon Code because it was observed that most health workers are ignorant of the existence of this tool, which guides against abuses and violation of the right to appropriate food for the baby. The code forbids the penetration of health facilities by company delegates to push the brands of their infant formulas. Short films on the first 1000 days of the life of the baby were projected to highlight some of the required approaches during counseling of mothers. From the regional breastfeeding workshop, activities were taken to the health district level and communities for organization of social mobilization and sensitization of mothers at grassroots. The lectures were presented in pidgin and the local languages for greater spread and outreach of mothers. Testimonies by mothers were registered during the question and answer sessions. Taboos were explained and advice given was necessary.