WBW 2013 Witnesses Great Participation In Cameroon

By James Achanyi-Fontem, PCA,FECABPA Email: fecabpa@gmail.com

Cameroon decided to delay the effective launching of World Breastfeeding Week 2013 for several reasons including the search for greater participation and impact from all stakeholders. This impact was achieved through orientations made in policy and investment by the ministry of public health, WHO, UNICEF, IBFAN Africa and other stake holders. The several tripartite preparatory meetings held in Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon focused on issues which aimed at closing gaps, following the report card presented after the second breastfeeding trends initiative assessment (WBTi)conducted by the Regional Coordinator of IBFAN Africa, Joyce Chanetsa and orientations on the way forward drawn from the first World Breastfeeding Conference (WBC) In New Delhi, India. The outcome of the WBTi Cameroon keep officials worried about why so much efforts is made, but exclusive breastfeeding rate remained so low at 20%. The first decision by the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, was to decentralize WBW activities nationwide at grassroots with involvement of lactating mothers, health workers and rural community radio stations to spread the key messages in local languages.

44 community based organizations and 60 community radio stations across Cameroon were engaged in WBW activities. The coordination of the activities was placed in the hands of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA. The federation led by Cameroon Link now officially plays the role of a national breastfeeding committee following a collaboration protocol agreement signed with UNICEF Cameroon on the instruction of the minister of public health. It should be noted that Cameroon Link is the leading civil society organization piloting IBFAN Cameroon Group activities due to a long standing connection and collaboration with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Africa). The government’s policy orientations led to the production of more social mobilization and sensitization materials for the WBW 2013 in addition to the large packs received from WABA and IBFAN Africa in English and French languages. These materials with the theme of the WBW 2013 were used for producing programmes in the official and local languages. To listen to the programmes, click on the web links at the end of this report. Materials produced locally included press packs, reviewed national code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, exercise books and T-shirts with the WBW 2013 logo placed on them. These items served for motivation of mothers and broadcasters during the educative talks, social mobilization, sensitization and organization of radio quiz on the theme for the year. UNICEF distributed several thousand pieces of soap during the week within its WASH on-going campaign as part of the hygiene ethics for mothers to wash their hands regularly before breastfeeding their babies.