Cameroon Prepares to Launch National Strategy on Maternal Health

For a lot of girls in Cameroon, childbirth stays a major well being danger. 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, based on the World Financial institution’s Gender Information 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 beginning—and chronic diet gaps proceed to put the well being of moms and newborns in danger. With out pressing and sustained interventions, preventable deaths will proceed, putting a good higher pressure on households and communities.

To handle these challenges, Cameroon is about to launch its five-year Nationwide Technique on Reproductive, Maternal, Youngster, Adolescent, and Diet Well being (RMNCAH-Nut) on March 13, 2025. Developed with help from Africa CDC and its companions, this technique—operating from 2025 to 2030—aligns with international well being priorities, notably Sustainable Growth Objective (SDG) 3 on well being and well-being. The plan focuses on strengthening maternal healthcare providers, bettering knowledge assortment, enhancing coverage implementation, and fostering higher coordination amongst stakeholders.

Earlier than its official launch, Africa CDC performed a key position 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 international locations 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 at the moment are getting ready for the official launch and mobilizing assets 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 important 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 protected 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 had been among the many first international locations 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 staff, civil society organizations, and native communities. A complete of 1,500 high-quality printed copies will likely 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 assets 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 main healthcare system. By prioritizing maternal and baby well being, this technique has the potential to avoid wasting 1000’s 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).