10e Assemblée Générale Ordinaire de la FECABPA à Yaoundé

Par Mme Priscille Emma Mouto, COGESID Bonamikano
42 délégués ont participés à l’assemblée générale ordinaire de la « Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations », FECABPA, le 26 novembre 2011 au siège de WATAMONOMO à Mvog Ada Yaoundé sur la présidence de M. James Achanyi-Fontem, le président national.
C’est à 10H00 que le président national de la FECABPA propose l’ordre du jour qui était adopté avant la vérification du quorum. L’ordre du jour était composé de :
1.Présentation individuelle des participants
2.Désignation d’un rapporteur ( Mme Mouto Emma Priscille de COGESID Bonamikano)
3.Prière par Mme Mendo Emmanuelle Raymonde de CASAMAC d’Ebolowa
4.Mot de bienvenue de la présidente de WATAMONOMO
5.Lecture d’un Poème sur l’allaitement maternel par un jeune de WATAMONOMO
6.Lecture du rapport de la dernière assemblée tenue chez CASAMAC Ebolowa , dans la région du sud Cameroun par Tsenou Martine Yolande
7.Orientation des activités de la FECABPA en 2012 par le président national , M. James Achanyi-Fontem
8.Organisation d’une causerie éducative sur la démarche pour une bonne mobilisation sociale communautaire dans le cadre de la promotion de l’allaitement maternel par Mme Fokoua Meffo Hélène
9.Présentation de la situation financière de la FECABPA en 2011
10.Cooptation des nouveaux membres
11.Annonce du lieu et la date de la prochaine assemblée générale.
C’est après la prière que Mme Endja Emilienne a pris la parole pour souhaiter la bienvenue aux membres de la FECABPA en disant le groupe AFEYMEK WATAMONOMO existe depuis 10 ans et la légalisation se fait en 2008. WATAMONOMO est composé de 30 membres guidé par un président d’honneur.
WATAMONOMO mènent des activités sur :
La mobilisation sociale et sensibilisation des populations sur les problèmes de santé en générale
La promotion de l’allaitement maternel
La promotion et éducation de la population sur l’importance d’hygiène et salubrité
La recherche des solutions liées aux problèmes de la pauvreté à travers le renforcement des capacités des femmes sur la gestion des micro entreprises et
Le soutien aux couches vulnérables et personnes âgés
Mme Endja a conclu son discours en disant que le succès de WATAMONOMO est grâce à des partenaires comme le ministère de la santé publique et la FECABPA.
Le jeune Endja Mathieu est introduit et il présente son poème sur l’allaitement maternel

Allaitement Maternel
Merci Chers parents, pour la vie que vous m’avez donnée ;
Merci encore pour ce don précieux que maman m’a donnée de façon exclusive jusqu’à l’âge de 6 mois ;
Merci pour cette précieuse protection dont j’ai bénéficié ;
Merci pour cette grande marque d’amour ;
Merci pour avoir échappé aux maladies de l’enfance ;
Merci papa chéri pour avoir soutenu maman pendant la période de l’allaitement maternel ;
Merci à vous les associations de soutien à l’allaitement maternel ;
Merci au monde entier pour la lutte contre la mortalité néonatale, infantile et maternelle ;
Merci maman, merci maman d m’avoir allaité.

Les membres applaudissent les mots affectueux adressés aux parents par le jeune Endja Mathieu et félicitent son talent. Dans le rapport de l’assemblée générale tenue à Ebolowa, Tsenou Martine Yolande trace les activités menées en 2011 en rappelant aux membres la nécessité de payer les cotisations annuelles.
Dans le cadre des orientations des activités de la FECABPA, M. James Achanyi-Fontem, le président national qui est en même temps le Coordinateur international de l’Initiative d’hommes de WABA, a fait une mise à jour de son programme pour faciliter la mise en place d’un plan d’action pour 2012 qui sera axé sur le renforcement des capacités des associations –membres de la FECABPA.
Il encourage d’avantage l’implication des hommes dans la promotion de la santé de reproduction et la nutrition infantile au Cameroun. Il ajoute que les conseils donnés aux mamans doivent aussi être donnés aux hommes, parce que la prise en charge d’un bébé n’est pas un faire de la mère seule.
Selon le coordinateur de l’initiative d’hommes de WABA, l’homme doit être plus prêt de sa femme après l’accouchement parce qu’elle a besoin du soutien, de la chaleur, de l’amour, de la confiance et des encouragements.
Pendant la période de la grossesse, la femme doit être en harmonie avec son partenaire pour éviter le stress et les angoisses, qui souvent modifient les hormones dans les corps de la femme et ceci peut avoir un effet sur le développement du fœtus.
L’allaitement étant une partie très important dans la santé de reproduction, il faut enrichir la nutrition de la mère pendant la grossesse pour que le bébé soit bien nourrit qu’a la nutrition pendant la tété dépend de celle de sa mère.
L’enfant grandit en confiance quand il est gardé par ses deux parents après l’accouchement. Il faut reconnaitre que c’est le droit de l’enfant pour être bien encadré. Le dialogue d’un couple pour la prise de décision est important pour la survie de l’enfant.

Comment transmettre le message entre le couple ?

Il faut étudier les caractères des uns et des autres pour pouvoir savoir quand passer un message pour le changement de comportement. Le couple doit s’entraider.

Comment créer les groupes de soutiens des mères ?
Il faut organiser plus des échanges avec d’autres associations de familles communautaires et initier les activités d’animation.

Comment chercher d’aide financière ?
Il ne faut pas toujours voir l’aide en termes d’argent. Il faut solliciter les aides en nature qui peuvent être transformées en argent. Pour réussir, les hommes et les femmes doivent travailler ensemble et participer à la conception du projet de l’association. Il faut organiser les soirées de récréatives dans la communauté et faire participer les élites. Il faut bien expliquer pour l’association cherche des ressources financière pour la planification et l’utilisation dans leur contributions.

Plan d’Action de la FECABPA

La FECABPA va continuer à organiser les réunions rotatives chaque trois mois avec les petites formations de renforcement de capacité des membres. Les membres seront encouragés à se faire recenser au niveau du ministère de la santé publique. Les lettres de collaboration sont signés au niveau des délégations régionales et les associations doivent transmettre leurs rapports d’activités à ces délégations avec les autorisation d’existence d’association.

Contribution Financière
Les associations –membres n’ont pas fait les cotisations à Mvog Ada – Yaoundé.

Prochaine Réunion
La prochaine réunion de la FECABPA est programmée au siège de Cameroun Link à Bonabéri-Douala à une date qui sera annoncé en mars 2012.

COL Cameroon Link Project Shared With FECABPA

By Cameroon Link
Email:camlink99@gmail.com
The different articulations of the Commonwealth of Learning were shared with the members of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding promotion Associations, FECABPA, on the 18th February 2011, at the head office of Cameroon Link in Douala on the occasion of the 8th ordinary general assembly. Members of FECABPA used the opportunity to review their past activities in 2010 and exchanged on ways of introducing the open distance learning strategy into their 2011 action plan.
Considering that the World Breastfeeding Week, WBW, celebrated in August each year falls within the scope of maternal and child health protection, FECABPA resolved to work with the COL Cameroon Link partnership liaison for the preparation of activities at the national level with the support of the ministry of public health.
The theme of WBW 2011 – “Talk to Me! Breastfeeding, a 3D Experience” was discussed. The theme is made available each year by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA. This year’s activities will focus on youths around the world.
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration and awareness campaign highlighting and recognizing the benefits of breastfeeding in communities across the globe. While there has been overwhelming support for breastfeeding from various international agencies (UNICEF, WHO, etc), women still face significant barriers and obstacles in their breastfeeding experiences. WBW aims to bring breastfeeding to the forefront of community agendas so everyone can be part of the dialogue!
Within the planned activities of mother and child health care radio design programmes, COL Cameroon Link exchanged with members of FECABPA on the meaning of the WBW theme, what the different nutrition and health associations want to accomplish in 2011,
Issues related to the theme include;
 Poverty Reduction, Hunger & Breastfeeding – MDG 1
 “double burden” & breastfeeding – MDG 4
 Maternal health & breastfeeding – MDG 5
 Unethical formula marketing – Quick fact about the Code,
 Environmental protection & breastfeeding – save x% waste from conserving on trash & cows milk
 Breastfeeding in the workplace – one of the places gov. play the BIGGEST role is policy to allow mothers to work and breastfeed
 Youth & breastfeeding and
 Breastfeeding and human capital development
The COL Cameroon Link Partnership Liaison, James Achanyi-Fontem, who doubles as the International Coordinator of WABA Men’s Initiative for promoting, protecting and supporting lactating mothers called on FECABPA members to work on ‘community’ or ‘communication’ oriented action ideas and highlight new ideas suggestions to improve the promotion breastfeeding activities using communication and youth involvement as well as other humanitarian movements (as organizations that work on the right of the women and children, gender issues, violence against women’s and children’s ,etc)
He added that research highlights will fit in this programme context, if associations looked at “Recommendation” section of studies that deal with counselling breastfeeding mothers, because often it seems like information is passed, but mother does not abide by the advice given by medical professionals. Participants during the events organized from the 1st – 7th August should highlight disparity and need for proper communication.
“With so many communication channels at our finger tips, now is the time to truly share and empower. It is also a challenge for us to think creatively about how to get the timeless message across and involve non-traditional audiences. All a mother needs is to feel supported, and this support must come from all angles, and all social contacts. This year’s theme is meant to remind us that breastfeeding really is a 3D experience – an outreach opportunity, an investment in a healthy future, and ultimately, a unique lens by which to see the world. Remember, men often are uninformed, women need encouragement, and youth are our future, questioning everything. We are the world out there, and we want to know. Please, Talk to me!!”
16 members representing 9 active infant and young child feeding associations based in Limbe, Yaounde, Ebolowa and Douala took part in COL Cameroon programme sharing exchanges meeting, which was reported on Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) and Canal 2 Tv.
On the way forward, members adopted the following general orientations during the year 2011:
 Expand on COL and FECABPA action partnership to include ministry of public health, ministry of education, ministry for women and the family, WHO, UNICEF, and other potential funding organisations.
 Focalise activities on youths in conformity with the theme of the World Breastfeeding Week 2011, “Talk to me about Breastfeeding”
 Organise more COL Cameroon Programme sharing of activities outcome with more national groups, as a means of reinforcing capacities of their members.
 Work closely with associations at health district level for targeting grassroot populations.
 The next national working session with associations was scheduled for Ebolowa, in the south region of Cameroon on Saturday, 25th June 2011.

Pauline Kisanga Directs COUNSENUTH Tanzania

By James Achanyi-Fontem,
Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The Centre for Counselling, Nutrition and Health Care (COUNSENUTH) has announced the election of Pauline Kisanga as new Executive Director for COUNSENUTH, effective from 1st January 2011. According to the organisation, this change is part of COUNSENUTH’s usual process of activating leadership. Mrs. Kisanga takes over from Ms. Restituta Shirima who served as Executive Director from January 2007 to December 2010.
Mrs. Kisanga is taking to the centre a wealth of experience and expertise which is expected to make COUNSENUTH grow, expand and flourish. Mrs Kisanga has long experience in nutrition and management, which includes the years served as a Director for Community Nutrition and also Director for Nutrition Education at Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) in the 1990s.
From Tanzania, Pauline Kisanga served as Regional for the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Africa, based in Swaziland for 12 years. COUNSENUTH is excited having her and looks forward to very fruitful years ahead for the organisation under her leadership.
Cameroon Link will join all the members of the WABA Men’s Working Group to accord her the cooperation that previous directors have enjoyed. Cameroon Link appreciates the partnership/collaboration it has always had with COUNSENUTH, and looks forward to
even stronger partnerships and working relations in order to continue efforts towards improvement of the quality of life of all mothers and children in Tanzania, Cameroon and Africa as a whole. The chairperson of COUNSENUTH, Mary G. Materu, announcing the good news said, “Together we can make a positive difference”.Congratulations! Pauline. For information, visit the website or write to: Mary G. Materu, MSc., Chairperson The Centre for Counselling, Nutrition and Health Care (COUNSENUTH)
432 United Nations Road, P.O. Box 8218, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Cell Phone: (255) 754 279 145
Website: counsenuth-tz.org
Blog: http://www.jipende.com

WABA Secretariat Revamped

By James Achanyi-Fontem, Coordinator, WABA MWG
Email: camlink2001@yahoo.com
Sarah Amin, Director of WABA, has announced two very important promotions within the secretariat of the organisation on February 1, 2011. The announcement was done on Kong Hei Fatt Choy - The Chinese New Year’s day. The Chinese new year of the metal rabbit came with the good tidings of two promotions within the WABA Secretariat:

The first is the promotion of Julianna Lim Abdullah, IBCLC, our very own International World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) Coordinator, to Deputy Director of WABA. Julianna started her new position as of 1 February 2011 and is taking on more of the administrative and management task of the office; working closely with Sita Letchmi and the director.

The second promotion is Sita Letchmi, who moved from Coordinator of Administration and Governance to Senior Coordinator also started 1 February 2011. She is taking on more of the financial responsibilities together with the director of WABA.

The Financial Officer, Dorothy Teng, is reported to have resigned as of 1 February 2011. The Secretariat will be advertising the position for a new Accounts person soon.
Bravo! Julianna and Sita from the Men’s Working Group and Cameroon Link

United Reformed Church Assembly 2010 backs Nestlé Boycott

By Baby Milk Action, 4 July 2010
http://info.babymilkaction.org
The United Reformed Church Assembly meeting on 4 July 2010 has given its support to continuing to boycott Nestlé over its aggressive marketing of baby foods. Baby Milk Action has welcomed the decision of the URC to continue its long-running support for the campaign.
Nestlé has tried hard to overturn URC support for the boycott. Last December Nestlé sent a team led by Vice President, Neils Christiansen, to try to persuade URC and other church representatives that the company had changed its business practices. However, Nestlé continues to reject the four-point plan put to the company by Baby Milk Action for saving infant lives and ending the boycott. Monitoring conducted by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), shows Nestlé continues to systematically violate World Health Assembly marketing standards. It is a requirement of the four-point plan and the criteria of ethical investment listings, such as FTSE4Good, that Nestlé accepts the marketing standards and brings policies and practices into line.
FTSE4Good confirmed last week that Nestlé continues to be excluded from its list. According to the report from the URC Assembly “General Assembly resolves that if Nestlé obtains listing on the FTSE4Good Index, Mission Council be instructed to rescind the boycott on Nestlé products outlined in the Assembly 1992 resolution.”
The FTSE4Good criteria have similarities with Baby Milk Action's four-point plan, requiring companies to accept World Health Assembly marketing standards (which Nestlé currently refuses to do) and to bring policies and practices into line. The key difference is that FTSE4Good looks to company reports on marketing practices, whereas Baby Milk Action looks to the independent monitoring conducted by IBFAN partners on the ground. A new monitoring report is due in 2010. Current concerns include Nestlé claiming its formula 'protects' babies and promoting it to health workers as 'The new "Gold Standard" in infant nutrition' (see image with online version of this press release).
Mike Brady, Campaigns and Networking Coordinator at Baby Milk Action, said:
"Nestlé appears to have taken a turn for the worse since Mr. Paul Bulcke took over as Chief Executive Officer in 2008. Although his predecessor, Mr. Brabeck, was bad at least he paid lip-service to the World Health Assembly marketing standards - the Nestlé line now is that they do not apply to the company. It is also rolling out a global campaign claiming its baby milk 'protects' babies and reduces diarrohea. Its claims do not stand up to scrutiny, endanger health and violate the marketing standards. We have stopped such strategies in the past through pressure from the boycott, but Nestlé keeps coming back with new strategies to boost sales regardless of the impact on infant health."
"We hope the United Reformed Church decision will add to the pressure from our current 'email Nestlé' campaign to persuade Nestlé to drop its 'protect' claims and accept our four-point plan for ending the boycott."
For further information, contact Mike Brady on 07986 736179.
Click here for Baby Milk Action's Email Nestlé campaign.
Click here for details of the four-point plan and FTSE4Good criteria and Nestlé's response to it.
Click here for Baby Milk Action's briefing prepared for the URC Assembly, with images, links and references.
Point 1 of the four-point plan states that Nestlé must state in writing that it accepts that the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the subsequent, relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions are minimum requirements for every country.
In its response to members of the public calling on it to respect the Code and Resolutions, Nestlé claimed in July 2010: "For your information, the World Health Assembly does not formulate marketing standards – rather it makes health policy recommendations to Member States. It is up to each Member State to determine how it implements these policy recommendations in their own country, according to their development goals and their social and legislative framework."
In truth, the International Code was adopted in 1981 and article 11.3 is clear:"Independently of any other measures taken for implementation of this Code, manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope of this Code should regard themselves as responsible for monitoring their marketing practices according to the principles and aim of this Code, and for taking steps to ensure that their conduct at every level conforms to them."
The World Health Assembly restated in May 2010 (Resolution 63.23) that it “CALLS UPON infant food manufacturers and distributors to comply fully with their responsibilities under the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions;” and expressed "deep concern over persistent reports of violations". Improvements to breastfeeding rates and complementary feeding practices “could save annually the lives of 1.5 million children”.
Nestlé's refusal to accept the validity of the Code and Resolutions is also preventing it from being included in the FTSE4Good ethical investment list. See, in particular, points 3 and 4 of the Policy Criteria of FTSE4Good Breastmilk Substitutes Marketing Criteria.