Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Code Monitoring in Cameroon

Code Monitoring in Cameroon

The IBFAN Cameroon Link Group intensified its Code Monitoring strategy during the WBW 2008 due to the new aggressive methods adopted by Nestlé Cameroon to capture the market as social mobilisation activities were expanded at grassroot within the communities through door-to-door campaigns throughout the World Breastfeeding Week. The content of the message delivered in English, French and local languages was that science has established that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six motnhs of a child’s life is the single best strategy for the infant’s survival, growth and development.
But just 24% of mothers in Cameroon breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. This constitutes an alarming threat to child survival, accroding to WHO and UNICEF. It is for this reason, we hold strongly the conviction that labels on infant formulae should be designed to provide the necessary information about the appropriate use of the product in a way not to discourage breastfeeding.
One of the most prevalent violations in cameroon is one on wrong age of introduction of complementary foods. This cuts across most products of Nestlé and Danone that have wrong labelling and claims that formulae from 4 months are adapted for infants. Danone’s Bledine Multi cereals is good example of a flagrant violation.
Article 5.2 and 6.2 of the International Code and Article 5.1 of the Cameroon National Code regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitute forbids the use of health facilities for the purpose of promoting infant formulae or other products within the scope of the code.
This report comes to expose how IBFAN Cameroon Link Group and the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations (FECABPA) efforts to protect breastfeeding through advocacy for the enforcement of the code is constantly facing new challenges.
In effect, we recommend that more training opportunities should be created to work out methods to counteract Nestlé’s new strategy of using its nutrition institute to corrupt and influence nurses and mid wives. We are recommending that the Cameroon government should put in place a Multi-sectored Code Monitoring Commission urgently, that can face the challenges with sanctions.
This request is justified by the advertisement attached to this report in the French language and translated by us from a national daily newspaper- Mutations. The turth is that Mutations attended a news conference given in Douala on the new direction of the WABA Men’s Initiative as a whistle blower, because the press conference information was later sold to Nestle Cameroun in exchange of the advert that was published as you will find below.
Due to the flagrant violations of the code in Cameroon, Cameroon Link and the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, is submitting a proposal for the text of application of the Cameroon 2005 Prime Minister order regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitutes throughout the territory.
The current law until now does not have teeth and we are proposing that sanctions be included as soon as possible if we want the companies to comply to the law.
This is just a draft that needs your opinion on the type of sanctions that should be included before the proposal is forwarded to the government through the ministry of public health

PROPOSAL 2008

TEXT OF APPLICATION OF THE REGULATIONS ON MARKETING OF INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PRODUCTS IN CAMEROON

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATION

PART I – Preliminary
1. Citation and commencement
2 . Interpretation
3. Application

PART II - Monitoring, Inspection, Stocking, etc.
4. Designation of monitors
5. Duties of monitors
6.Duties of authorized officers
7. Conditions for stocking, etc, foods for infants and young children or other designated products

PART III - Prohibition against Promotion, Advertising, etc.
8. Promotion, Advertising, etc, prohibited
9. Health workers prohibited from promoting, etc, foods for infants and young children

PART 1V – Labelling, Warning, Preparation, etc.
10. Labelling of foods for infants and young children and other designated products
11 .Labelling of infant formula and follow up formula
12. Warning about improper preparation of infant formula or follow-up formula
13. Labelling of other products sometimes used as foods for infants and young children
14. Labelling requirements for feeding bottles, etc .

PART V – Information and Educational Materials
15. Information and educational materials on infants and young children feeding
16. Information and educational materials on foods for infants and young children

PART VI - Offences and Penalties
17. Offences and penalties
18. Body corporate liability

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on the Minister of Public Health by the law n° 96/003 of 04 January 1996 on the framework of the health sector operations, the decree N° 2005/5168/PM of 01 December 2005 regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitutes in conformity with the international code and the Decree N° 1433/A/MSP/SG/DCOOP/CPNAT of 17 August 2007 fixing the framework of collaboration between the Ministry of the Public Health, Associations, Non Governmental Organizations and health facilities of the public and private sectors, the following Regulations are hereby made –

PART I –Preliminary

Citation
1. These Regulations may be cited as the marketing of foods for infants and young children text of application of the Cameroon National Code 2005 and shall come into operation six months after publication in Cameroon.

Interpretation
2. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Codex Alimentarius Commission” means the Joint Food Standards Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation and the World Health Organisation ;
“Codex Standard” means the latest version of the relevant Codex Standard as issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
“Complementary Food” means any food suitable for use to complement breast milk or infant formula or follow-up formula;
“Container” means any packaging of food for infants and young children and other designated products for delivery as a single unit and includes wrapper ;
“Designated products” includes –
(a) infant formula;
(b) formulas for special medical purposes intended for infants;
(c) follow-up formula;
(d) complementary foods;
(e) beverages for infants and young children;
(f) any product marketed or otherwise presented as suitable for feeding infants and young children ;
(g) feeding bottles ;
(h) teats;
(i) pacifiers and dummiers;
(j) breast pumps;
(k) cups with spouts or similar receptacles for feeding infants and young children and
(l) such other products as the Minister of Public Health may, by notice published in the Official Gazette designate.
“Distributors” means a person engaged in the business, whether wholesale or retail, of marketing or distribution or sale of foods for infants and young children or any designated products, and includes any person engaged in the business of providing information, or public relations services in relation to foods for infants and young children or designated products;
“Foods for infants and young children” means a group of food products distributed, marketed or otherwise represented as suitable for infants and young children including –
(a) infant formula ;
(b) formulae for special medical purposes intended for infants;
(c) follow- up formulae;
(d) complementary foods
(e) beverages for infants and young children ;
(f) any product marketed or otherwise presented as suitable for feeding infants and young children ;
(g) feeding bottles ;
(h) teats ;
(i) pacifiers or dummies ;
(j) breast pumps ;
(k) cups with spouts or similar receptacles for feeding infants and young children and
(l) Such other products as the Minister of Public Health may , by notice published in the Official Gazette designate.
“ distributor” means a person engaged in the business ,whether wholesale or retail, of marketing or distribution or sale of food for infants and young children or any designated products, and includes any person engaged in the business of providing information, or public relations services in relation to foods for infants and young children or designated products ;
“ foods for infants and young children” means a group of food products distributed, marketed or otherwise represented as suitable for infants and young children including –
(a) infant formula ;
(b) formulae for special medical purposes intended for infants
(c) follow–up formula ;
(d) complementary foods
(e) any other product marketed or otherwise represented as suitable for feeding infants and young children ;
“follow up formula” sometimes referred to as “follow–up formula” means milk or a milk-like product of animal or vegetable origin industrially formulated in accordance with such regulations as the Minister of Public Health may make and, in the absence of regulations, in accordance with the Codex Standard for Follow–up Formula, distributed, marketed or otherwise represented as suitable for infants older than six months of age and young children;
“Formula for special medical purposes intended for infants” means infant formula which is specially manufactured to satisfy the nutritional requirements of infants during the first months of life up to the introduction of complementary feeding when medically indicated;
“ gift” includes designated product, meals and refreshments, diaries, stationery, calendars, cot tags, stickers, growth charts, prescription pads, tongue depressors or any free item of whatever value;
“ health care facility” means any governmental, non-governmental or private institution or organization engaged, directly or indirectly, in health care for mothers infants, young children, pregnant women, and includes private practice, nurseries or childcare institutions; but does not include social welfare institutions;
“Health workers” means any person working or trained to work in a health care facility, whether or not that person is a professional or non-professional and includes voluntary or unpaid workers;
“Infant” means a person from birth up to the age of 12 months;
“Infant formula” means milk or milk like product of animal or vegetable origin formulated industrially in accordance with such regulations as the Minister of Public Health may make and, in the absence of such regulations, in accordance with the Codex Standard for Infant Formula intended to satisfy the nutritional requirements of infant from birth, and include formula for special medical purposes
“ manufacturers” means any person, corporation or other entity engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of manufacturing food for infants and young children and other designated products;
“marketing” means promoting, distributing, selling or advertising a designated products and includes product public relations and information services, including the use of professional service representatives such as mother craft nurses, or any person acting on behalf of a manufacturer or distributor;
“Monitor” means a person appointed by the Minister of Public Health or His representative to carry out any exercise necessary to reveal contravention of these Regulations;
“Promote” has the meaning assigned to it under regulation 8(1);
“Sample” means a single or a small quantity of a food for infants and young children or a designated product provided without cost;
“Social welfare institution” means any governmental or non-governmental organization engaged, directly or indirectly, in providing for the social welfare of infants and young children, but does not include health care facilities;
“Tie-in sales” means the sale of any designated product that is linked to a purchase of any other product including a designated product; and “young child” means a person aged between 12 months and 3 years.

Application
3. These Regulations apply to the marketing, and practices related thereto, of foods for infants and young children and other designated products, when imported into, marketed, distributed, sold or manufactured in, Botswana.

PART II - Monitoring, Inspection, Stocking, etc.

Designation of Monitors
4. (1) The minister or his representative may designate, as monitors, such number of persons he or she considers appropriate, who have undergone training on monitoring of violations of the International Code of the marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and these Regulations .
(2) The minister or his representative shall issue to any person designated as a monitor, a letter of appointment and the monitors shall have such letters in his or her possession when performing any function in terms of these regulations.


Duties of Monitors
5. (1) A monitor in exercise of his or her duties shall investigate, observe and record information regarding the marketing practices of manufacturers and distributors at any points of sale, heath care facilities, border posts and offices, through media, institutions and elsewhere .
(2) A monitor may for the purpose of monitoring violations of these Regulations enter, at any time, any premises which are used for dealing in foods for infants and children or other designated products and may –
(a) require any person in the premises to furnish any information including documents in his or her possession as the monitor may require;
(b) caution the person on the premises regarding any violation of these Regulations,
(c) seize any goods, or promotional materials or documents where the goods or promotional material or documents in question contravene these regulations.
(3) A monitor shall, after monitoring sub-regulation (1), submit a report in writing, in relation to his or her findings to the Board.
(4) In any proceedings under these Regulations, a report signed by a monitor shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(5) No monitor shall have any direct or indirect commercial interest in infant and young child feeding.
(6) A monitor, acting in accordance with these Regulations, shall if required by any person, provide proof of his or her authority.
(7) An owner, occupier or person in charge of any premises entered by a monitor shall give to the monitor all reasonable assistance and shall furnish him or her with such information as the monitor may reasonably require.
(8) No person may obstruct or impede a monitor in the course of performance of his or her duties.
(9) No person may knowingly make any false or misleading statement, either verbally or in writing, any monitor engaged in carrying out his or her duties.

Duties of authorized officer
6. (1) An authorized officer shall implement these Regulations under the powers vested on him or her by the provisions of Section 6 of the Food Control Act;
(2) No authorized officer shall have any direct or indirect commercial interest in infant and young child feeding.

Conditions for stocking designated products
7. (1) No person shall stock, distribute, sell or exhibit any foods for infants and young children which have expired or are beyond their shelf life.
(2) No person shall stock, distributed, sell or exhibit any food for infant and young children or other designated products which are not in their original containers.
(3) A container of foods for infant and young children, for sale or distribution, shall be free from dents or any other form of damage and shall be kept-
(a) In a cool and dry place;
(b) At least 50 cm from the floor; and
(c) In a hygienic manner.

PART III – Prohibition against Promotion, Advertising, etc.

Prohibition of promotion and advertising
8. (1) For the purpose of this regulation, “promote” includes –
(a) Any direct or indirect method of introducing a designated product or encouraging the buying or use of a designated product;
(b) sale devices such as rebates, special displays to promote sales, tie-in sales, loss leaders, grant of rewards, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, prizes, gifts and giving of samples to mothers;
(c) direct or indirect contact between marketing personnel and members of the public in furtherance of or for the purpose of promoting the business of designated products and indirect contact includes television and radio, telephone or internet help lines, mother and baby clubs and baby competition;
(d) Electronic communication including website, internet and electronic mail;
(e) Promotional items such as clothing, stationery or items that refer to a designated product or to a brand name of a designated product;
(f) Outdoor advertisements such as billboards;
(g) Placard and newspaper or magazine inserts;
(h) Practices that create an association between a manufacturer or distributor and breastfeeding.

(2) No person shall –
(a) promote or cause to be promoted, foods for infants and young children or other designated products ;
(b) engage in promotional activities of any designated product;
(c) publish or cause to be publish any advertisement for any designated product;
(d) Advertise or cause to be advertised any designated product.

(3) No manufacturer or distributor shall -
(a) Distribute or cause to be distributed any information or educational material
relating to infant or young children nutrition or feeding, except in accordance with these regulations.
(b) offer or give or cause to be offered or given, any benefit to a health worker, including, fellowships, study grants, funding for attendance of meetings, seminars, continuing education or conferences;
(c) Fund any research, clinical or otherwise, carried out by any health worker on any designated product, except in accordance with a protocol approved by the relevant authority in writing;
(d) Directly or indirectly, provide any support financial or otherwise, to any health worker;
(e) employ any person to provide to health workers in health care facilities, pregnant women or mothers of infants and young children or any person with education or introductions regarding the use of a designated product;
(f) Sell, donate or distribute or cause to be sold, donate or distribute in a health care facility, any-
(i) Equipment, materials or any other services with any reference to any designated products or contain the name or logo of any manufacturer or distributor of any designated product;
(ii) Foods for infants and young children or other designated products at a price lower than the published wholesale price or in the absence of such price, lower than 80% of the retail price.
(g) Calculate a bonus payment based on the volume of sales of any designated product; or
(h) Set a quota for the sale of any designated product as a sales incentive.

(4) notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (3) (a), manufacturers and distributions may give information about designated products to health professionals if such information is restricted to scientific and factual matters regarding the technical aspects and methods of use of designated products, and in accordance with regulations 15 and 16.
(5) Sub-regulation 3 (f) (ii) shall not apply where a donation or low price sale is made to an orphanage or other social welfare institution for infants who have to be fed on designated products and shall not prevent the government from procuring foods for infants and young children, for its feeding programme or for social welfare purposes, at the lowest possible price through bidding procedures.
(6) Donation or low price sales made to orphanages or other social welfare institutions, whether for use in the institutions or for distribution outside them, as provided for under sub-regulation (5) should be sustained once started and should continue as long the beneficiaries need them.
(7) Manufacturers shall not make donations as referred to in sub-regulation (5) or set low price sales as sales inducements.
(8) Marketing personnel in their business capacity shall not seek direct or indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women, or with caregivers, or mothers of infants and young children intended to further commercial interest.

Prohibition of promotion by health workers
(9) (1)health workers shall
(a) promote and support breast-feeding, unless medically indicated;
(b) keep a records register of contraventions of the provisions of these regulations by manufacturers or distributors in their respective health care facilities; and
(c) Provide the records under sub-regulation (1) (b) to monitors and authorized officers.
(2) health workers shall not-
(a) accept from manufacturers or distributors any of the following offers :
(i) gift,
(ii) financial assistance,
(iii) fellowships, study tours, research grants, funding for attendance of conferences,
(iv) samples of goods for infants and young children or other designated products, or
(v) quantities of foods for infants and young children or mother designated products at a price lower than the published wholesale price, or in the absence of such price, lower than 80% of the retail price, or
(b) Display foods for infants and young children or other designated products.
(3) sub regulation shall not apply to –
(a) research activities approved by the health research authority in writing, or
(b) Quantities of foods for infants and young children or other designated products for social welfare purposes provided under the government feeding progammes and in terms of such guidelines as the board may from time approve.



PART IV - Labelling, Warning, preparation, etc.

Labelling of foods of Infants and Young Children
10. (1) Except to the extent otherwise provided in these regulations or any other regulations made under the act, every food for infants and young children shall be labelled in accordance with the Labelling of pre-packaged foods regulations.
(2) Every label on the container of a food for infants or young children shall contain, in written and simple English and French, the following information which shall appear in bold and conspicuous characters in a prominent position on the container –

(a) Instructions for the appropriate preparation in words or easily understood graphics;
(b) instructions for the proper sterilization of equipment and utensils;
(c) a warning about the health hazards of incorrect preparation or use of the product;
(d) the recommended age for use of the product, which in the case of complementary foods should not be before the age of 6 months;
(e) the danger to introducing the product prior to the recommended age;
(f) the name of the product;
(g) the composition and analysis of the product;
(h) nutritional information of the product;
(i) the batch number of the product;
(j) correct storage instructions of the product;
(k) the country of origin of the product;
(l) the date of manufacture of the product;
(m) the net weight of a solid product;
(n) the net volume of a liquid product;
(o) the name and address of the manufacturer of the product;
(p) the date of expiry of the product, which shall be indented and stated in order of day, month and year; and
(q) The list of ingredients used.
(3) A label on a container for food for infants and young children shall not contain
(a) pictures of infants, women, animals or toys nor any other picture or text or any symbol depicting a health advantage which idealizes food for infants and young children or other designated product;
(b) Any information comparing breast-milk to food for infants and young children or other designated products.
(4) No nutrition or health claims shall be made with regard to ingredients or nutrients or young children.;
(5) Only infant formula may be marketed or otherwise presented as suitable for infants younger than 6 months of age.

Labelling of infant formula and follow up formula
11. (1) no person shall sell infant formula or follow-up formula unless the container or label affixed thereto, contains the following information in written and simple English and French –
(a) In bold and conspicuous characters in a prominent position and in not less than 50% of the size of the largest words on the container or label and not less than 2mm in height -
“IMPORTANT NOTICE: A MOTHER’S BREAST-MILK IS BEST FOR HER BABY. CONSULT YOUR HEALTH WORKER BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO USE THIS PRODUCT”; and
(b) Stating the dangers of using left over formula.
(2) The label on any container of infant formula or follow up formula shall not include words such as “materialized”, “humanized” or terms similar thereto nor any comparison to breast-milk.

Warning about inappropriate preparation

12. (1) The label on any container of infant formula or follow up formula shall contain the following words in bold and conspicuous characters in a prominent position and in not less than 50% of the size largest words on the label not less than 1.5 mm in height –
“WARNING:
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION CAREFULLY OR YOUR BABY MAY BECOME ILL. DO NOT USE MORE OR LESS THAN THE QUANTITIES INDICATED. CUP FEEDING IS SAFER THAN FEEDING FROM A BOTLE”.

(2)The label on any container follow-up formula shall also state the product shall not be use for infants younger than six months.
(3)The label shall have graphic representations illustrating the method of preparation of the product and methods of feeding cups and feeding bottles.

Labelling of other products used as foods for infants and children

13. The label on any container of the following types of milk –
(a) sweetened;
(b) condensed;
(c) evaporated;
(d) dried;
(e) skimmed;
(f) low fat;
(g) imitation milk-like dairy products; or
(h) standardized milk
Shall contain words in bold and conspicuous characters not less than 2 mm in height-
“THIS PRODUCT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FEEDING BABIES”

Labelling requirements for feeding bottles, etc.

14.(1) in label, package or container of a feeding bottle or teat shall include, in simple written English and French –
(a) a statement of the superiority of breast-milk for feeding infants;
(b) a statement that feeding with a cup is safer bottle than feeding;
(c) Instruction for proper cleaning and sterilization of feeding bottle and teat;
(d) a warning of potential health hazards of using feeding bottle especially if it is not properly sterilized;
(e)the need to follow preparation instructions carefully;
(f)The name and address of manufacturer or distributor.
(2)In label, package or container of a feeding bottle or teat shall not contain pictures of infants, women or infant toys nor any other picture or text or any symbol depicting a health advantage which idealizes artificial feeding.
(3)A label of a dummy shall include, in simple written English and French–
(a) a notice that the use of such dummy can interfere with breastfeeding;
(b) Instructions for proper cleaning and sterilization of the dummy;
(c)a warning on potential health hazards of using a dummy especially if it is not properly sterilized;
(4)A label of a dummy shall not contain pictures of infants, women, animals or toys nor any other picture or text or any symbol depicting a health advantage which idealizes artificial feeding over breastfeeding.
(5)A label of a breast pump shall have written instructions in simple English and French, for proper use, cleaning and sterilization of the breast pump.

PART V - Information and Educational Materials

Information and educational materials on infant and young children feeding

15. (1) notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, no person shall directly or indirectly, distribute any education material or any information relating to infant or young child feeding in Cameroon without the approval of the national monitoring board.
(2) Any educational material or information, written, audio or visual electronic or otherwise, relating to infant feeding shall explain –
(a) the importance, benefits and superiority of breastfeeding during the first 2 years of the life of a child;
(b) the value of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life followed by sustained breastfeeding for at least the first 2 years of the life of a child;
(c) the preparation for and the continuance of breastfeeding;
(d) factual and current information and shall not use any pictures or text discouraging breastfeeding;
(e) how bottle-feeding interferes with breastfeeding;
(f) the difficulty in reverting to breastfeeding after a period of formula feeding; and
(g) How the early introduction of complementary foods interferes with breastfeeding.
(2) The educational material or information referred to in subregulation (2) shall not make any reference to the brand name of food for infants and young children or many designated product or the name or logo of any manufacturer or distributor.

Information and educational materials on foods for infant feeding

16 (1) where the educational material or information referred to in regulation 15 includes the topic of the feeding of infants with infant formula or follow-up formula, it shall include: -
(a) instructions for the proper preparation and use of the product in question including the cleaning and sterilization of feeding utensils;
(b) the health hazard or bottle feeding and improper preparation of the product;
(c) the importance and proper instructions on cup feeding; and
(d) The approximate financial cost of the product in question if used in recommended quantities for a period of six months.
(2) Where the material referred to in regulation 15 includes the topic of infant with complementary food, it shall explain –
(a) The health hazards of introducing complementary foods too soon or too late; and
(b) That complementary food can easily be prepared at home using indigenous ingredients.
(3) Feeding with infant formula, follow-up formula or complementary foods whether manufactured or home prepared, shall be demonstrated only by health workers or other community workers if necessary, and only to the mothers or family members who need to use it and the information given shall include a clear explanation of the hazards of improper use.

PART VI - Offenses and Penalties

Offences and penalties
17. (1) a person who contravenes a provision of these regulations commits an offence and is liable –
(a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding CFA 500.000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, and where the offence is a continuing offence, to an additional fine not exceeding CFA 500.000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month for each day on which the offence continues; and
(b) for a second or subsequent offense, to a fine not exceeding CFA 500.000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months and where the offence is a continuing offence, to an additional fine not exceeding two months for each on which the offence continues.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of sub-regulation (1) the national monitoring board may recommend to the minister of public health, any other action to be taken against any manufacturer, distributor, health worker or other person who contravenes the provisions of these regulations.
(3) On the conviction of any person for an offence under these regulations, the minister of public health may cancel, or suspend any license issued to that person which is relevant to the offence committed.
(4) Where the person has been convicted of an offence under these regulations, the minister of public health may order that any article relevant to the offence be forfeited and that it be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, as the minister of public health considers appropriate.

Body corporate liability

18. where an offence under these regulations which has been committed by a body corporate is provide to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in such capacity, he or she as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding CFA 500.000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.

Gender and HIV remains a problem in Cameroon

Gender and HIV/AIDS

In Africa, the tradition is that men leave the home to work and women take care of the home. This mobility of men and their absence from their spouses gives leeway for men to “experiment” with willing women who want to make money. There is a saying that promotes this womanizing habit in men: “A man is a pair of shorts which gets worn out due to traveling, and a woman is a piece of cloth that stays at home.” When a man contracts the HIV virus, in due course he shares the virus with his wife.
While male mobility is a big issue in AIDS infection, the largest group of men who are infected are not migrant workers, but are married or cohabiting and have sexual relations with women other than their regular partners.The WBW 2008 presentation explored stories of women who are facing problems associated with HIV and AIDS. The question is: who faces the biggest share of the problems that HIV/AIDS brings to the home – the women or the man?
There are many kinds of problems related to HIV/AIDS and many kinds of solutions. For example, some villages have started home-based care for women with AIDS as well as for orphans in Cameroon. Has anyone in your listening area found effective and creative solutions to HIV/AIDS problems?
Radio live shows interviewed people in their listening audience who are working on these issues and hearing about problems and their solutions.

Tori for pikin e'chop for bobbi

WEEK FOR 2008 WEH WE DI GLAD FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY
1-7 AUGUST 2008.
MAMI GET FOR SABBI: Sabbi fine, ana talkam too the same time , ana make sey all man talkam too, for sekka sey when all man talkam na so wey all man for ground di hear. Pikin e chop for bobby fine past all other chop dem.
TORI DI YEAR FOR WEEK WEH ALL MAN DI GLAD FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY.
• We get for make sey all man for ground hear sey na pikin e chop fine past all.
• We get too for make tell the new tori wey e just commot for pikin e chop for bobby, ana make sey all man sabbi.
• We go make sey mami dem all for all side hear, family people too hear, people dem for outside house hear, people dem for workplace ana one dem wey dem di still look work hear, big big people for country too dem hear, ana all man for ground hear sey na chop for bobby fine pass other chop dem .
The big big tori for 2005 weh we been talkam`` na mami e right sey e hear di tori, ana take the tori tell other people dem too, sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine past all other chop dem when pikin commot for e mami e belleh.
WABA, the people for dis ground wey dem di make all man hear dis tori don talk sey the only wey weh we fit helep mami dem for di ground na for make sey dem hear dis tori ana dem too talkam too, sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine . Question wey e dey for inside na sey , na how you fit helep sey mami ana all man hear dis tori?. The answer na sey if you do your own small thing for helep sey people hear ana people you tell dem tell their own people too all man for di ground go hear.When you tell some man tell e sey man e try to for telll e own man. Any man wey e di make sey people dem hear dis tori get shiny-shiny gold for e neck, we di callam for big grammar sey GOLDEN MEDAL. Na di one go show sey you di do fine work.
The wey mami need for hear dis talk e dey like the support wey man wey e want go run for olympic games need for getam. Make we no forget sey family, man wey e sabbi ana, ana big big people dem for country get for helep sey dis tori wakker as man wey e di go run need family and people for government for support e too. Na When all man don put e hand den we fit sey `` plenty hand dem di make work small``. For 2007 dem be call pikin e chop for bobby sey ``Gold Standard`` for big ig grammar dis one mean sey big e chop for bobby na the first. For 2002 ,UNICEF dem be start for talk sey dis chop na gold ``Goldem bow`` ana for 2004 dem callam sey `` WABA Golden Bow`` . All dis one na for show sey pikin e chop for bobby fine plenty.
THING DEM WEY FAMILY PEOPLE GET FOR DO ANA TOO PEOPLE DEM FOR OUTSIDE: WHEN DEM DI TALK ABOUT PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY.
Family dem , friend dem wey dem di talk about pikin e chop for bobby na dem di push dis tori for front. Dem di talkam for market, for church, for motto park, for backside ana for front door. When we start for tell mami wey e deh with belleh sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine e di make e glad plent. Time too wey mami wan born pikin ana when e just born pikin dis tori di make e glad past mark. Family ana friend dem di helep mami plenty when dem di talk dis palaver for pikin e chop for bobby for e ana other people dem.
MAKE WE CARE FOR WE SKIN.
When mami dem take care for dem skin e di helep plenty for make sey pikin chop e chop for bobby fine. All di one di start na as mami di hear the good tori dem for e family ana friend dem , even people dem wey dem di work for hospital sey if e give pikin e chop for bobby as e commot for belleh sorteh six moon pass ana continue for give e bobby ana chop dem for house e go grow fine.
PLACE WEY WE DI WORK TOO DI HELEP PLENTY.
Mami dem wey di work get sey dem friend dem for workplace ana other people dem helep for hear tori for pikin e chop for bobby. We know sey di tori too go be na how dem workplace dey. Anyhow wey e dey `` good tori na good tori`` e no matter which place wey we talkam. Palaver for pikin e chop for bobby na thing wey we fit nack tori for all side.
BIG PEOPLE TOO FOR COUNTRY GET FOR HELEP.
Mami dem wey dem di give pikin e chop for bobby ana one dem wey dem di plan for give pikin e chop for bobby get plenty support for all big ig people for di ground as law be don writam for book. Book for government for law, for hospital ana for other place dem di talk sey na pikin e chop for bobby e fine when dem born e.. Book dem too don deny sey make mami dem no give pikin chop for feeding bottle. So make mami dem know sey government dey for dem back for helep dem sey pikin grow fine ana mami dem too shiddon fine for di ground.
IF SOMETHING HAPPEN WETTI WE GET FOR DO.
If mami fall for trouble wey e fit disturb pikin for no chop e chop for bobby, na palaver for we all, whether na family person oh, whether na friend oh, all man get for put hand see sey the problem finish. Palaver for mami pikin na palaver for all man.Na di kind thing we di callam for big grammar sey `` CIRCLE OF SUPPORT`` , dis kind helep find sey we lookam fine , e fit be na one wey no man no cause am ( natutural one ) , e fit be na sey na papa don run house for sekka sey money no dey for helep sey pikin grow, or e fit be na sey mami get sick for e skin plenty, or pikin too get plenty sick for e skin, when thing like this happen , all man get for put hand for dey see sey mami and pikin, family and friend dem shiddon fine.
MAMI DEM NA FIRST PEOPLE FOR HELEP.
We don lookam fine ana we see sey mami dem na the first people for helep when trouble commot, ana so so dem be first for talk dis touble for other people dem. So we di glad sey mami get plenty thing for do sey pikin e chop e chop for bobby, forsekka sey na mami di shiddon with pikin past all man. Mami dem need sey we helep dem too. If all man put hand for talk tori ana do make sey make e chop e chop for bobby den di ground go fine plenty plenty.
WEEK FOR 2008 WEY ALL MAN DI GLAD FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY.
HELEP MAMI MAKE E HELEP E PIKIN TOO FOR GROW FINE.
IF ALL PIKIN CHOP E CHOP FOR BOBBY DEN ALL MAN FOR GROUND DON WIN.
WABA : YOUNG PEOPLE DEM OWN BOOK FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY.
Thing wey e dey for inside na sey young people dem don always di put plenty plenty head ana heart for make sey tori for pikin e chop for bobby go for front.. if di world be fine na na glad for all man , if all man e boday dey fine, na glad for we all, so na for we for continue see sey all man dey fine. If mami dey happy, pikin go be happy ana if pikin dey happy mami go be too happy ana papa too. Plenty book dem don show sey:
• one person fit make thing change.
• Old tori for book too don talk sey plenty people dem di make thing change plenty plenty. So e fine for be plenty do something. Na the thing wey we di beg sey all man join head make we talk palaver for pikin e chop for bobby.
• Old tori too don talk sey, if you hear something wey e fine ana you tell another man all man go hear. Ana if you make someman happy e no go forget you.
• Book too di sey if country dem gather do something e di wakker plenty past when one man do am. Dem talk for grammar sey UNITED NATIONS `` we, the people of the world….``.
• Tori for so so book sey if you want glad make people dem too dem glad. Tell dem tori wey you know. Like di one wey we di talk so, sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine past all chop dem when dem born e.
The thing wey we don talkam na e di make all man hear sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine. Make we no forget sey when small pikin dem dey foe small place ana dem di do small thing dem e di make all thing for change too ana young people sabbi di style for change something plenty.
If you want for enter di palaver for change , start your own now for di tell people dem for your house, for your quarter, for your town or for any place wey you dey ana you di go sey na pikin e chop for bobby fine past all other chop when dem born e, ana make mami give pikin bobby sorteh six moon e past ana e continue for give pikin bobby witti other chop dem for house. Feeding bottle no fine for pikin, so make mami dem no give pikin feeding bottle.
As we don di fight sey ana di make sey all man for ground hear dis tori ana give pikin e chop for bobby na so we di get small worry dem too, but we di use all kind wey too for make sey all man hear am , so sey trouble no dey . Now we di fight for make sey plenty plenty young people dem hear sey pikin e chop for bobby fine past all other chop dem when dem born e.
Na small smalll wey all man go hear dis tori. Na the thing we ditry for make sure sey thing wey we di talk go for all side, ana we di make sure sey pikin dem for house , young people dem , mami ana papadem all hear dis tori.
If you look we you go thing sey we small for number nut true true thing for inside na sey all man dey for we back , so we na all man. Ana all man get e own thing wey e di do, forsekka sey any small thing wey you di do for make sey pikin chop e chop for bobby na big thing , if you di hear di talk na now , do your own small thing ana e go helep all man for ground plenty.
NA HOW WE FIT MAKE SEY DI GROUND FINE FOR WE ALL.
Man wey e put di tori for book e name na Anwar Fazal, big big man for WABA.
For di ground today we don see sey war plenty for plenty country dem, jelousy ana trouble past mark.. Na the thing do people wey dem di make chop for feeding bottle di lie everyday sena dem chop fine. Mami, papa ana pikin dem make we no green make foe fool we, feeding bottle no fine for pikin. We don talk di one plenty time . we don already stoppam sey make dem no use pikin for talk name for feeding bottle, we don makam radio, television ana book dem no di talk palaver for feeding bottle again.plenty young people don put dem head for dis tori ana ddem di try for helep sey pikin e chop e chop for bobby, we di glad for dis people all wey dem dis helep for push dis tori for before like Mike Muller for South Africa, like Christopher Kurth for Switzerland.
YOUNG PEOPLE DEM BE NACK TORI FOR PLENTY COUNTRY TALK DEM.
Tori for pikin e chop for bobby don commot for plenty country talk dem. If you see di talk for someside givam for man wey e no get. Whether na which country talk oh e dey.
WEEK FOR 2008 WEY WE DI GLAD FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY GET PICTURE COMPETITION .
Put your own picture for computer send am for we ana show we how pikin di chop e chop for bobby, if your own picture fine we go dash you US$100 for anyone wey you send am for we dis year wey we dey for inside so.
TORI FOR WEEK FOR 2007 WEY WE DI GLAD FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY DON WAKKER FOR ALL SIDE FOR DIS GROUND.
E PAST 10,000 mami pikin dem wey dem enter di tori for ground. Mami ana pikin dem for 14coutry dem don join we for start talk dis tori. Di one happen so na for week for 2007 wey we di glad for pikin e chop for bobby. Theing dem wey we be do for 325 place dem for 14country dem for 10 o`clock for morning time been make sorteh 10,103 mami pikin dem hear dis tori for pikin e chop for bobby, ana too sorteh 9,826 mami pikin dem be gather for one place.
All dis one di show sey dis tori wey we di talk na tori for we all `` we want make sey dis tori enter even for side wey some people thing sey e no fit enter`` Na Ann Veneman nack that tori, big big woman for group wey e di talk palaver for pikin ( UNICEF ).
As tori di enter for all man e ear na so too wey people wey dem never hear di hear `` e fine plenty for make man wey e never hear tori for pikin e chopp for bobby hear`` Na Yanet Olivares for Dominican Republic nack that tori, e country be bringmami pikin dem for one place for 2007.
The first week for Agust 2007 been be na the first time wey tori for pikin e chop for bobby be enter plenty plenty people dem ear. The head for dis tori be talk sey make mami e give e pikin chop for bobby as dem born e sorteh six moon past ana e continue for give pikin e chop for bobby ana chop dem for house. The tori be strong na for place wey all man hear sey e fine for give pikin e chop for bobby as e commot for belleh.
YOUNG PEOPLE DEM HOLD MEETING FOR PHILIPINES.
E been past 150 young people dem wey dem shidon for nack tori for pikin e chop for bobby.dem be talk
gain wey ami ana pikin fit getam if e give e pikin bobby as dem born e.
• thing wey e fit happen if mami no di give pikin e chop for bobby.
• Thing wey e fit happen for pikin when mami di give feeding bottle fro pikin.
• Dem be play too some game for show how wey mami need sey we helep e make e give chop fr bobby.
• Tori pikin e chop for bobby ana for put hand too for inside.
Dem be call plenty people too for nack tori for pikin e chop for bobby. Dem show be for television too for pikin e chop for booby `` Meet your Meat`` .
PEOPLE DEM FOR AFRICA WEY DEM DI TALK TORI FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY(IBFAN AFRICA) DEM DI TELL DEM YOUNG PEOPLE SEY WELCOME.
Dem be start yooung people dem own group for Africa when dem be shiddon fo some big big meeting for 13th – 18th August 2007 for Maputo, Mazambique. For add thing dem, dem be chose dem own people wey dem go di talk for young people dem place. Na so dem di try for write dem own book wey dem go followam before dem do dem own work . Dis one na thing wey e don happen for young people dem for Africa ana we all.
YOUNG PEOPLE FOR INDIA DI HELEP SEY TORI FOR PIKIN E CHOP FOR BOBBY FO FOR FRONT.
Young sicteen year old people dem for Chidambaram wey na some small place for Andhra Pradesh for India dem enter tori for pikin e chop for bobby strong strong sorteh oplenty people dem hear am. Dem di call dem sey `` friends of Police``. Some other group too enter too for tori pikin e chop for bobby. Dis group wakker for all side Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, New Delhi, Pondicherry, Chenni and Hyderabad.
Dr. A. Muthuswami wey e di work for Cuddalore ana di tell people make dem give pikin e chop for bobby glad sorteh when e see am sey young people too di talk dis palaver.
NEW THING DEM WEY DEM DON LOOK AM SEE AM.
Dis book e name na `` The ICEC and Global Social Mobilisation``, e commot for Tulane University- New Orleans, L.A., USA. For 1991 dem be ask Tulane university school for public Health ana medicine make e try for look plenty thing wey e go helep mami for give pikin e chop for bobby. People wey dem be shiddon strong see sey dis university do dem work fie na UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, PAHO, USHHS, ANA USAID, dem be give dem own small money for dis palaver sey e wakker. Dis book di talk about five different kind people dem;
• people wey dem di make thing wakker for pikin e chop for bobby.
• People wey dem di see sey e wakker fine.
• People wey if e want spoil dem go fixe am.
• People wey dem di talkam for ngangi house ana for all side.
Dis book too some fine tori wey e di talkam for country dem wey dem no get plenty money like for Asia, for Africa, for Latin America, for Middle East ana other place dem too. E di fight for see all man commot like one man make tori for pikin e chop for bobby go for front.
Maureen De Marino na one member too for young people wey dem di nack tori for pikin e chop for bobby. E own work na for tell another young people wey dem never hear sey pikin e chop for bobby fine past all cho dem.`` me a be na nurse ana ma work na for put people dem name for book when dem come for hospital ana tell people thing for do for make pikin grow fine, a di work na for tell mami how for give pikin e chop for boobby , a di thank all man wey e di helep sey di ma fine work go before`` Maureen De Marino, RNCLC.

Milk Production Shortages in Cameroon

Cameroon faces deficit in milk production
James Achanyi-Fontem, Coordinator – WABA MWG

The place occupied in the the equilebrium of the nutrition needs of a human being very visible, as it remains a noble natural need from birth and even when a person become old with deficiencies. Many nutritionists see milk as a priority element nutrition protection.
Cameroon produces approximately 170.000 tonnes of milk each year, but this far from the national demand put at 300.000 tonnes. Due the shortage, some CFA 20 Billions is spent on milk impotation. The paradox is that Cameroon disposes of enormous potentials that can cover the national needs and even export to other countries of the Central African sub region.
According to specialists of the ministry of livestock, fisheries and industries, it is in the interest of Cameroon to produce sufficient milk, because it disposes of needed natural and human potentials to realize it. Statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, show that Cameroon possesses nearly 6.000.000 cows and its milk production is realized with non specialized breeds, that represent about 20 per cent of the milk production cows in the country.
With the non specialized breed, the cows produce only one or two litres of milk a day and this varies from season to season and environment within a period of 150 days in the year. In special cases and environments, cows produce up to five litres of milk a day.
It is with this analysis that the national production potential is estimated at 270.000 tonnes, though the figures have stabilized at 125.000 tonnes for several years. The level of production leaves each inhabitant of Cameroon only with 8kgs of milk in the year, instead of the world standard of 45kgs per inhabitant each.
In the European communities, the consumption of milk is close to 93 kgs per inhabitant each year and this easily illustrates the deficit faced by Cameroon in its milk production strategies. On the other hand, milk products locally made are even worse as only 6.6kgs are consumed per inhabitant each year. This reamins far below the recommended nutrition norm of 20 grames of animal proteins per person a day. There is no doubt that this constitutes a real infringement in the human development in Cameroon.
To close the gap, the government organizes massive importation of milk and milk products from several parts of the world. The principal products imported include powder milks, sterilized milks, pastorized and creamed milks, concentrated milks, butters, creams, yaourts, just to name a few found in our markets.
However, powder milks constitute the principal imported product for the local industrial transformation units in the big cities of Cameroon. Approximately 13.000 tonnes are imported yearly according to officials of the ministry of livestock, fisheries and industries. Through this, the country gives away approximately CFA 30 Billions in importation cost, insurance and transport charges in 2007 alone.
From 2007, it would be noted, the international market prices increased on imported products. The current reflection is on how cameroon can face the situation through national production of this very fragile product and others with the respect of international norms of treatment and conservation in adequate hygienic conditions.
The truth is that, the Cameroon market has been invaded by imported milk powders from France and The Netherlands and Singapore. Though importation and code montioring instruments put in place by the government, no real rules are respected as distribution and marketing penetrates forbidden zones and territories.
Of the 16 different types of powder milks found in the Cameroon market, 10 come from either Europe of the Far East countries, with most of them falling under the infant and young child feeding artificial formulae brackets. As if it is a competition of dumping, the super markets are invaded by Guigoz, SMA, Nan, Alma, Blédina, Nursie and so on. A tin or packet of these different products vary between CFA 2.500 and CFA 2.800.
The aggressive marketing is equivalently affecting powder milk for the old persons like Nestlé’s Nido, that keeps changing packaging to draw a wider consumer target. Most of the creamed and concentrated milks sold in Cameroon come from Lituania, New Zealand, France, Singapor, Malaysia, Thailand and so on. This group of milks cost between CFA 2.200 and CFA 2.800 a tin or packet of 450 g in the super market.
As the prices of formulae increase and international code monitors advocate for the respect of the rules by milk production and distribution companies, a market crisis entered the nest, as whole sale agents complaint that formulae is almost lossing the race in Cameroon.
Unfortunately, not all companies respect the rules of the game, as some market delegates now seize the opportunity to buy the heart of nurses and paediatricians, who simply refuse to adhere to the national code regulations put in circulation by the Prime Minister in December 2005. This code forbids any advertizing of any formulae brand in health facilities throughout the country.
In Cameroon hospitals, breastmilk substitute manufacturers and distributors put money first before the health of babies. Health facility managers allow company delegates to advertize their milk brands in hospital halls and on doors of essential medicine prescribers. This only tells the story about why most of our hospitals are refused the « Baby Friendly Hospital Label » by WHO and UNICEF. Cameroon has zero Baby Friendly Hospital according to the latest international rating compared to its neighbours.
The government has put in place all the necessary monitoring instruments. As we cry of milk shortages, we should also think about the future of the leaders of tomorrow, who are the babies of today. Let us put health first and money after.
For this to happen, the government should urgently put in place a national code monitoring commission, that would enforce the code with the application of sanctions. The current code violations have extended to poor labelling and misinformation of mothers.

Y4BF Takes off - Cameroon

Y4BF Initiative Takes Off In Douala, Cameroon
By James Achanyi-Fontem, Coordinator, WABA MWG

Some 150 youths aged between 14 and 24 years from different colleges and universities in the south west and littoral provinces grouped in Bonabéri, neighbourhood of Douala City on June 7, 2008 to launch the Y4BF Initiative in Cameroon. Youth for Breastffeeding Promotion is an initiative of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) encouraged by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Africa).
Apart promoting the use of their mother tongue for communciation on infant and young child feeding issues, the leader of the Y4BF Initiative Group, Taku Jenerius, said their agenda icludes bringing youths together through the organisation of theatre, debates, conferences, music shows, exchange learning quiz and fund raising activities in the colleges and communities as well. The above activities were planned as part of the IBFAN Africa maternity protection seedgrant and preparations of the World Breastfeeding Week 2008 under the theme « Mother Support: Going for the Gold ». IBFAN Africa recommended the involvement of men and youths with emphasis on the breastfeeding mother at the work place.
The youths invited the national president of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, who doubles as the national coordinator of the IBFAN Cameroon Link Group, James Achanyi-Fontem, to patronize the launching event at a Community Development Hall in Bonabéri-Douala.
Speaking during the Y4BF Initiative launching, the national coordinator of Cameroon Link announced that WABA and IBFAN plans annual events that target youths throughout the world and Africa in particular. He invited them to take the opportunity to continue with the started youths initiative by holding regular meetings to define clear areas of collaboration with other youth groups that have similar intentions.
They were invited to get regularly involved in World Breastfeeding Week events and other social mobilisation activities by participating in joint and/or coordinated advocacy strategies on various WABA and IBFAN key issues like mother support, gender promotion, HIV prevention, prevention of early pregnancies, and promotion BFCI through the integrated mother and child nutrition week planned annually in January by the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health.
FECABPA and IBFAN Cameroon Link Group promised to compliment skills of men and youths group leaders through capacity building and training for greater community out reach and increased focus on gender mainstreaming, men and youths involvement;
The WBW 2008 IYCF materials received from WABA and IBFAN Africa were distributed during the Y4BF Initiative launching for exploitation and dissemination of up dates during their meetings.
At the fund raising phase of the youths’ activities, their leader announced that donations collected were to be directed for the fight against the degradation of cultural norms and values and fight against traditional taboos.The youths’ support group will encourage underadvantaged youths’ inclusion as contribution to nation building.
Ndi Nkemasong , a noble of Lebialem told the youths, that as fathers and mothers, it was their role as parents to encourage the promotion of mutual exchanges amongst youths, while guiding them on the risks of early sexual activities and the responsibilities that go with having a baby early and unprepared.
A supportive mother, Suzanne Nkeza, emphasized on abstinence from sex until marriage. She added that in the continuous effort to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, families face challenges daily. With this, she told the youths to aim at taking their message of Y4BF intiative through different channels of communication in Cameroon, including door-to-door campaigns and code monitoring in super markets.
She added that sometimes, youths fall in their individual attempts, and that it is the concern of fathers and mothers to focus on the issue of "Social Mobilisation and YOUth" as encouraged by WABA and IBFAN Africa.
You should be proud to have a patron who is already cotributing in the above networks, she echoed, and that they the fathers and mothers are sure that this will be beneficial to all. The national coordinator of Cameroon Link informed the youths of the existence of the WABA Youth Initiative newsletter edited by Santiago Vallone, which can be discovered on the waba web site at www.waba.org.my , as he quoted the editorial of the third edition thus «It is with the small effort made by many people that we can make the difference together. We try to orientate our efforts in a network, promoting the mobilisation of different actors within the society to achieve a common goal which is social mobilisation and solidarity.
All of us, as small groups that promote breastfeeding as human right, should realise we are not alone. Each and everyone of us plays a fundamental rule in the work done in this huge network. In essence therefore, the smallest effort is important to spread the social commitment in social mobilisation - Santiago Vallone »

MWG Snapshot on Mbororos - Cameroon

MWG Snapshot on Mbororos- Cameroon
Transnational Relations of Mbororo Migrant Families
By James Achanyi-Fontem

Cameroon Link assisted in the facilitation of the 2nd General Assembly of the Mbororo migrant network of associations held in Douala on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Some 200 delegates from the three Northern , East, Centre and Littoral provinces attended the one full day of deliberations on how to promote gender and development for the integration of the Mbororos in national plans.
Associations from the different provinces are grouped under the Mbororo network organisation « SURAMAMA ». Opening the deliberations in the presence of the provincial delegate for the promotion of the woman and the family, Suzanne Patricia Bebe, Team leader Hassan Hamadou, told the delegates that all human beings are equal in the eye of God, irrespective of the political, religious or cultural background. With this, he invited delegates to exchange ideas and make proposals on how to develop strategies for the intergation of the marginalized Mbororo groups in cameroon in national development policies to reduce their migration into other countries.
Suzanne Patricia Bebe lauded the initiative of the Surmama and announced the decision to put the Mbororo women at the centre of celebrations marking the Africa Women’s Day 2008 in Cameroon. She observed that the integration of the Mbororos has been a challenge to the government, because these are people who migrate constantly and do not have birth certificates and do not establish marriage certificates for the establishment of socio-economic development security. They hardly carry identification papers and though composed of very large populations, have a low education rate.
The Provincial delegation for the promotion of the woman and the family joined in the organization of Mother/Father support activities to empower the Cameroon Mbororo woman through existing organized groups like Suramama.
Reports made by the different group leaders from Garoua, Bertoua, Yaounde, Bamenda and Douala approved that alphabetisation of the Mbororo remains a major problem, due to their normadic activities. Their normadic life style does not make them benefit from the common soci-ecnomic and education possibilities granted by the government and international communities.
Women are a target for alphabetisation because this will empower them and assist in the promotion of infant immunisation of Mbororo children between zero and 5 years, encourage HIV/AIDS prevention and promote the fight against malnutrition. Suramama has worked out a collaboration partnership with the provincial delegation for public health and legal organization to prevent violence against women.
A close look at the Mbororo Community structures show that the margin between the man and the woman is very wide. The woman reamins marginalized and uneducated, compared to the opportunities accorded to the man or boy-child. The girl-child is given out to early marriages in exchange of cows as dowry. For every 100 Mbororo in Cameroon, only two have national identity cards.
To reverse the situation, Horé Poulakou, a Mbororo association located in Garoua with over 500 members has engaged in the promotion of the education of the girl child and the established of national identity cards for newly born babies as well as the aged who do not have one.
The General assemmbly organized in Douala was an opportunity to evaluate how far the Mbororo have gone with their self-help integration and development projects with the last five years. Suramama is in its third cycle. The third cycle started with the success story of registration of some 600 Mbororo children in primary schools in the Adamaoua, though the classrooms remain congested, due to the lack of enough classrooms, benches, and teachers.
Cameroon Link -Suramama partnership started 6 years ago and regular humanitarian assistance has been accorded to Suramam in the area of capacity building, health promotion of the Mbororos through immunisation campaigns in Ndobo – Bonendale communities, promotion of mother and child care, infant and young child feeding , organisation of educative talks on the importance of child education and the protection of the rights of the mother and the child, promotion of micro-economic activities as a source of women’s empowerment and the promotion of networking of the Mbororo associations.
Addressing the audience at the general assembly, Dr. Michaele Pelican, who lectures at the Department of Social anthropology in the University of Zurich, Switzerland presented a paper on her research studies on Mbororo Muslim migrants from Cameroon in various parts of the world, their experiences with western and islamic educational nteworks as well as with work opportunities in African countries and the Arab world.
Her paper also dealt with the migrants' impact on their home area and their contribution to economic, political, religious and social change. Transnationalism is a relatively new concept in the study of migration, she told the delegates, as it refers to mobility across multiple national borders and to migrants enter1aining regular and sustained contacts with individuals/communities in two or more nation states.
While much research on African migrants has concentrated on migration to the West and the migrants' integration into the host society, the focus of her research on the migrants' relations with their home communities as weil as on the perception of these relations both by migrants' and their relatives and friends at home, narrowed its focus on Mbororor Muslim migrants and their migratory movements within Africa and to the Arab/Muslim world.
Since the Muslim community of Cameroon is ethnically heterogeneous, the research concentrates on the migration trajectories of pastoral Foulbe (Mbororo) and Hausa from northwest Cameroon. Both groups have considerable historical experience of pastoral and trade mobility, and their par1icipation in international migration may be conceptualised as an extension of their "culture of mobility".
Frequently, international mobility is closely linked to labour and urban migration. Moreover, it requires networks of information and facilitation that are mostly found in urban centres. The on-going research will include extended phases of fieldwork both in the home regions of the study communities as well as in the cities of southern Cameroon, Yaoundé and Douala.
As concerns the migration destinations, Gabon, South Africa and Dubai will be considered. The choice of these destinations is based on their popularity among Cameroonian migrants as well as on the comparative opportunities they offer. As a neighbouring country to Cameroon, Gabon supports different types of transnational relations as compared to South Africa where regular mobility to Cameroon requires considerable economic resources. Dubai, on the other hand, allows us to investigate linkages between historical and modern experiences of trade mobility as weil as the possible impact of a Muslim environment on the migrants' transnational relations.
Researchlng transnational migration requires also the researcher's mobility. Due to its multi-sited character, the project is extending over a period of two years (2008-2010) and will involve substantial travel and research within Cameroon (Centre, Littoral, West, Nor1hwest,
Adamaoua. North. Far Nor1h) as well as within Africa (Gabon, South Africa) and Dubai.
Michaele Pelican, better known within the Mbororo environment as Aïshatu, is an anthropologist and post-doctoral researcher . Her other works include research on transformation of the socio-economic situation of Mbororo women in North West Cameroon published in 1996 and the inter-ethnic relations of Mbororo, Hause and Grassfielders in Misaje of North West from 2000 -2002.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Cameroon Link - About Us

Cameroon Link

Cameroon Link is a registered charity not-for-profit organization involved in volunteers’ socio-cultural promotion of community health development through women’s empowerment, human assistance advocacy, information, education and communication on human rights of the woman and the child. It also involved in nutrition promotion, especially in the area of Infant and Young Child Feeding. It was created on the 9th September 1991 and the head office is implanted in Grand Hangar-Bonabéri (Nouvelle Route) in the Douala City neighbourhood.

It was founded by a professional health development group of communication specialists, journalists, health and social welfare workers, due to the crucial lack of timely, adequate, appropriate and good circulation of information within communities on health development issues, social welfare, infant and young child feeding, maternal nutrition and food-self sufficiency in Cameroon. Cameroon Link is leader-organisation of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Association (FECABPA) and Cameroon Association of Newspaper Journalists, (CANJ). It was officially incorporated through its registration on the 23rd November 1992, within the frame work of the law N° 053/90 of 19th December 1990 on the creation of association.

Cameroon Link NGO holds the official registered reference n°251/RDDA/C.19/BAPP attributed by the SDO for Wouri Division, Richard MOTA, Senior Civil Administrator of Exceptional Class. Cameroon Link acquired from the Ministry of Women's Affairs a protocol letter of collaboration registered under the reference n°. 00199 signed on the 19th June 1997 by the Minister of Women's Affairs, Mrs. YAOU Aïssatou.

Another protocol letter of collaboration with the Ministry of the Public Health referenced N°. E32/L/MSP/BG/DSC/B.SIDA of 16th February 1998 was signed by the Secretary of State, HAYATOU Alim. The Registration Certificate N°: 98/RC/GPLI/SG/DAJ of 8th February 1995 was obtained from the Littoral Governor’s Office in Douala.

Cameroon Link is the International Award Winner for its outstanding communication performance of several distinctions amongst which are:

  • Canadian Developing Countries Farm Radio Network George Atkins Rural Communication Award- 1996
  • Mashav Haifa, Israel - Best Media Baron Strategies for Social Change Award 2001
  • IBFAN Africa Best Infant & Young Child Feeding Advocacy Award 2007
  • Olympic Gold Medal Award for WBW 2008 Marathon Competition 2008

Strategic Framework

The vision of Cameroon Link is of a nation in which people do not die of treatable infections and diseases or lack of adequate nutrition. This means a nation where communities have brought self-food sufficiency deficiencies, maternal and infant malnutrition, HIV/AIDS/TBc, Sickle Cell Disorder, Malaria,etc... under control through preventing, accessing and providing care and support, and alleviating the impact of any epidemic. Cameroon Link’s vision goes together with values. For this reason its activities build on human rights, public health and socio-economic development approaches. The work of Cameroon Link is underpinned by a set of shared values, which make its team to believe that:

· The lives of all human beings are of equal value. Unequal power relations increase people's vulnerability to common diseases. These arise, in particular, from poverty and the abuse of people's human rights. Gender, religion, class, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation are all sources of vulnerability and unequal power in our societies.

· Everyone has the right to access the information and services they need. People should have access to accurate and complete information about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby and complimentary feeding thereafter with continued breastfeeding, HIV prevention, comprehensive prevention programmes, and initiatives that promote the self-determination, dignity and quality of life for people living with common infections, and for groups who are likely to affect, or be affected by the spread of HIV/AIDS. People have the right to access AIDS care and treatment and appropriate health and social services, including treatment and palliative care for those with AIDS. Sickle Cell Disorder which is common in Africa has not got the full attention of decision makers for the problem to be considered a public health issue.

The work of Cameroon Link is guided by the belief in the importance of meaningfully involving all vulnerable people, particularly those living with HIV and AIDS, sickle cell disorders and malnutrition in all aspects of the response to the health issues, ensuring that communities play a central role in the response to these issues, challenging dogma and discrimination.

By getting into partnership with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Africa), Blue Cross International, other national and international organizations, we aimed at making sure that our initiatives are driven by evidence of “what works” for Cameroon like in other African countries and the rest of the world.

Cameroon Link takes a gender approach to health issues as a means of acknowledging the role of both men and women in meeting the challenges that surround us. Reducing the vulnerability of children and young people in Cameroon and other parts of the world, and involving them in planning, implementing and evaluating sex education, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disorder prevention with care programmes, as well as being accountable to the people we work to support and to those who support our work has been and remains capital for our success in the years ahead.

In trying to fulfill this mission, we strongly believe that we are also contributing towards achieving the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, Infant and Young Child Feeding, alleviation of poverty among the less advantaged communities, the prevention of Sickle Cell Disorders of the United Nations General Assembly Special Sessions and to the Millennium Development Goals.

Cameroon Link remains a national initiative of people, organizations and communities working towards a shared vision by supporting effective community responses to Infant and Young Child Feeding, HIV and AIDS, Hygiene and Sanitation and Drug Abuse among Youths. It operates through forged partnerships, shared knowledge, accessing financial resources, and offering technical assistance through capacity building of men, women and youths’ groups. The WABA Men’s Initiative has join the race of challenges and we have hope that you will support our efforts.

By the organizational structure of Cameroon Link and the involvement of the media for communication purposes, it is recognized to have great social mobilization capacities for penetration of the grassroots populations. Cameroon Link uses the approaches of community advocacy and social mobilization, door-to-door, that take into account the roles of all stakeholders. All activities of Cameroon Link are designed with, and executed with representatives of the beneficiary groups and communities. It offers its technical know-how and services to other groups and organizations through information exchange, capacity building training and consultations. It operates counselling sessions in its documentation and training centre in the head office in Grand Hangar – Douala Bonabéri (Nouvelle Route), in the neighborhood of Douala City, considered the economic capital of Cameroon with a very thick population estimated already at approximately three million inhabitants.

Project Target Groups: Men, Women, Youths & Media

Activities

  • Collection and publication of health development and researched information
  • Promotion and animation of Cameroon Link Documentation Centre in Grand Hangar, Douala-Bonaberi (Nouvelle Route)
  • Organisation of advocacy conferences, and open-door activities for the promotion and protection of Infant and Young Child Feeding, mother and child rights, Women’s Reproductive Health rights, Maternal malnutrition and HIV prevention
  • Training of Community health volunteers on media strategies for social change through behaviour change communication.
  • Rehabilitation of AIDS Orphans and street children in emergency situation.
  • Organisation of home inclusion visits and assistance for social integration of vulnerable street children.
  • Promotion of Infant Exclusive Breastfeeding for the first 6 months
  • Promotion of nutrition and dietary activities within the food-self sufficiency programme of Cameroon
  • Organisation of Infant and Young Child Feeding Emergency Support
  • Advocacy and Monitoring for the promotion of the International Code on the Marketing of Breast milk substitutes.
  • Training of Community Health Volunteers on Advocacy and Social Mobilisation strategies, I.E.C. Strategies, Code Monitoring, Peer Education and HIV Prevention & Home Care Initiatives Management.
  • Promotion of HIV - positive patients’ assistance and psycho-social support
  • Collection of information, production, multiplication and circulation of educational materials for community out reach purposes through print and audio-visual channels.

Administrative Council

Chief Executive Officer: James Achanyi-Fontem, Communication Consultant

Secretary: Christine Nganno, Nutritionnist

Treasurer: Lucie CHOUNGA, ToT Coordinator

Information Officer: Chrisantus Abila, Youth Peer Leader

Welfare Officer: Francis Lekeaka, Sociologist-Anthropologist

Youth Initiative: Anuwoh Achanyi & Njiankeng Achanyi (Students)

Logistic: Celine Asonganyi, Accountant

Code Monitoring Unit: David Koledjo, Cameroon Blue Cross Youths Coordinator

Information Officer: Aboubakar Mgbekoum, Journatist

Resources Persons:

Dr. Mbunya Nkondem Simon, Physician,

Samuel Mibe, Senior Health Technician

Mouto Priscille, Gender Women Council Leader, Bonamikano

Ngwa Mary, Gender Women Council Leader, Mambanda

Tchamkou Mathilde, Gender Women Council Leader, Ngwele

Peter Monet Otto, Community Health Volunteer

For more information and exchange

Contact Person

James Achanyi-Fontem

National Coordinator,

Cameroon Link

P.O. Box 1460 Douala,

Littoral Province,

Cameroon

Tel: (237) 77 75 88 40

Fax:(237) 33 39 13 56

Email: camlink2001@yahoo.com

Web site: http://cameroonlink.blogspot.com/