Initiative D´Hommes de WABA

Bienvenue à l’Initiative D'hommes de WABA
Adresse de contact :
James Achanyi Fontem
Coordinateur International
Initiative D´Hommes de WABA
BP 1460 Douala,Region du Littoral,Cameroun
Tel (237)77758840 - Fax (237)33391356
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
Breastfeeding: Go Natural!
Members of the steering committee, core partners, focal points, team leaders of the taskforces and technical working groups of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) ended the GBPM VII 2008 and a workshop on how to promote breastfeeding from 6 months to 24 months and beyond.
The global call by WABA si that breastfeeding mothers should go natural and that they have to be supported in various ways. On the eve of the events, the 54 participants from 24 countries in five continents of our planet were treated to a rich motivating lecture by 80 year-old Professor, Dr. Michael Latham of the United States of America. Cameroon, Mozambique, Ghana and Zimbabwe represented the Africa continent during the fruitful exchanges, as Prof. Michael Latham presented all the positive arguments for the theme of the workshop and the GBPM.
The Health Development NGO "Cameroon Link" represented the Central African sub region and Cameroon at the meetings and workshop. In effect, from the 7th to 10th October 2008 there was a lot to learn and brainstrom as far as protecting and promoting breastfeeding from 6 months to 24 months and beyond was concerned.
WABA made a good selection of high level experienced university professors to interact with well known breastfeeding consultants and activists of breastfeeding protection and promotion to put the hostilities to breastfeeding by formula promoters on the world lens.
This is judged from the testimonies presented by Prof. Penny Van Esterik of York University, Canada and Dr. Anwar Fazal, WABA Chairperson Emeritus, on the knowledgeability of the guest speaker who was at the same time celebrating 45 years of breastfeeding protection interventions and his 80th birth day.
Both spoke on the numerous advantages of breatfeeding as compared to infant formulas to justify the continuous fight to maintain breastmilk on the agenda of infant and young child feeding throughout the world. It is important to note that it took 45 years to convince WHO and UNICEF to accept the policy of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and complimentary feeding thereafter with continued breastfeeding for 24 months and beyond.
With this, Prof. Michael Latham emphasized that it is now the time to push breastfeeding from 6 months to 24 months and beyond, because lengthening the duration of breastfeeding is another entry port for 'Going Natural'.
The workshop and meetings that took place from the 7th to 11th October, 2008 were chaired by Felicity Savage, the current WABA Chairperson from a United Kingdom Health Consultancy Organisation. Felicity Savage pilots activities of the steering committee of WABA. Dr. Carol Williams also from the UK emphasized that it is not only important to know what to give the baby, but also how to give it.
It was observed that some children gain weight during care in the health facilities, but the same children die later when they return home, just because the mother is not well counselled and directed on the different steps to protect and care for her baby.
Facilitating the workshop, Carol Williams touched on the pertinent issues and problems encountered by mother, families and communities during the first six months of lactation of the baby after delivery. She told the audience that the problems are different compared to those encountered when breastfeeding has to be prolonged from 6 months to 24 months and beyond.
Statistics from the United Nations agencies, she went on, show that 1.3 million infants die every year and that infant health was a complex issue with a continuous process. She added, that socialization, security and trust are achieved with the baby only through breastfeeding and attachment. Separating the baby form the mother changes the attitudes of babies and this is due to the lack of attachment.
For more on this report, click the link www.waba.org.my or www.worldbreastfeedingwwek.org. More on the workshop and meetings will be brought to you through the YOUtube broadcasts at: camlink99 and http://cameroonlink.blogspot.com/
Initiative D'hommes de WABA
Fondé en octobre 2006, l’Initiative D'hommes de WABA est un développement et majoration continue de l'idée d'impliquer des hommes, dans l'effort à protéger, promouvoir et soutenir l’allaitement maternel. L'idée initiale était née pendant le Forum Global 2 de WABA, Nourrissant L'avenir: Défie d’Allaitement maternel dans le 21è Siècle en septembre 2002 à Arusha, Tanzanie. Le forum a conduit à la formation de L'initiative Globale pour Le soutien de Père (GIFS).
En Octobre 2006, dans la conjoncture de l’atélier de formation du Genre de WABA et le seminaire des Jeunes, une réunion d'hommes en assemblée à essayer de revivifier l’ effort de GIFS. Pendant les déliberations les membres ont decouvertes que le terme "père" était trouvé limiter et le groupe a voulu élargir l'étendue de travail qui conduit à la naissance d’Initiative d’Hommes de WABA.
L'initiative est coordonnée par le Groupe de Travail D'hommes (MWG) comprenant d'huit hommes de la Suède,l’ Inde, le Pakistan, la Swaziland, le Mexique et l’Argentine.
La vision
Un monde où allaitement maternel est une norme culturelle et où hommes soutiennent des femmes et familles à nourrir et donnent les soins optimal à leurs nourrissons et jeunes enfants, contribuant ainsi à un juste et équitable société du genre, saine et égale.
La mission
Créer un environnement permettant aux hommes, particulièrement les pères, à participer activement aux activités et prennant les responsabilités d’autre part avec les femmes dans le soins optimal pour leurs nourrissons et jeunes enfants, participent aux plaidoiries, formation et renforcement des capacités bâtissant des populations.
Les buts
• à augmenter et améliorer la participation de pères dans l’attachement parentale et soutien à l’allaitement maternel.
• à augmenter la participation d'hommes, surtout les pères, dans l’encadrement des soins des enfants, à prendre les responsabilités domestiques, et à soulever la sensibilisation d'hommes sur les droits de la femme et les droits de l 'enfant, participer à la recherche des solutions aux problèmes rélative à la santé de reproduction et promotion des rélations sexuel sûr.
• à soutenir les efforts qui assurent un plus grande égalité de genre dans toutes sociétés et dans l'ordre permettant un environnement sain pour l’ allaitement maternel, la promotion de la santé de le famille et le bien être..
LES OBJECTIFS
• à inclure les pères dans la programmation des activités et services pre - natale, post-natale, information, education et communication, des services entremises natales et formation parentale;
• à développer les profils de pays qui fourniront un image globale de la participation d'hommes dans l'alimentation des enfants et aux bons soins de nourrissons et jeunes enfants;
• à disséminer les connaissances spécifiques et les avantages de la participation de pères à tous parents;
• à améliorer réseau et liens avec des groupes de soutien connexes de cibles, particulièrement les groupes d'hommes, à promouvoir le soutien des pères;
• à recommander un amélioration de la législature sur le soutien et de la participation maximume d'hommes dans les soins des enfants et soutien parentale;
• à agir comme un stimulus si bien que l'établissement de l’initiative de soutien de Père porte globalement des résultats positives.

Le Bulletin d’Information
Le MWG collabore avec le Groupe de Travail de Soutien de Mère (MSTF) dans la confection et diffusion d’e-newsletter qui publie des articles sur La mère et le Soutien de père. L’ e-newsletter est produit en quatre(4) langues: L'Anglais, Français, Espagnol et Portugais,trois fois par an. Lé-newsletter en anglais et Francais uniquement pour les hommes sera produit deux fois par an.
Pour souscrire au WABA MWG e-newsletter qui a des articles sur le soutien de père et les mise à jour d'initiative D'hommes, il faut nous écrire.
Pour contribuer les articles sur les leçons apprises sur Le soutien de père et le soutien D'hommes de l’allaitement maternel, il faut envoyer un email à adresse de WABA: waba@streamyx.com
WABA MWG Seedgrant
Le seedgrant a pour but l’établissement ou renforcement des groupes de soutien de père dans la protection de l’allaitement maternel, la promotion et le soutien dans le monde entier.
La sectionne du Site Internet
Les revues et mise à jour d'initiative d’Hommes sont publiés dans la sectionne du site internet de WABA. Nous vous invitons à soumettre des articles, les histoires, le rapport des recherches, les images des activités intéressantes, les maillons des hommes/pères au site de WABA. Vous trouveriez la liste d'événements pertinents à l’ initiative de l'Hommes sur le site aussi. Pour soumettre vos contributions, il faut envoyer matières et informations à WABA: waba@streamyx.com
La feuille d’Activité
Le MWG produit un feuille d'activité sur le père/ le Soutien d’Hommes. Un papier préliminaire de discussion a été produit. Contacter WABA pour une copie de ce papier de discussion.
Les Images Régionales
Ce projet vise à produire un outil à recueillir des informations et à obtenir une meilleure compréhension de la situation de paternité et des hommes dans des pays différents (ou régions ) . L’image permettra au MWG à améliorer les strategies de travail d'initiative plus efficacement. Le projet initial a commencé avec un groupe de coeur de cinq pays, notamment la Suède, le Pakistan, le Mexique, le Cameroun et la Mozambique. Il faut nous joindre pour la promotion de l'activité d’image Régionale. Contactez WABA à : waba@streamyx.com pour plus d’information.
La campagne D{Adhesion
Nous continuons la campagne de recrutement pour le soutien d'initiative D'Hommes pendant les événements et conférences, et des occasions de diffusion des activités de WABA.
Le Noyau du Groupe & Les Membres
Le Groupe de Travail D'Hommes (MWG)
Peter Briefe & Par Gunnar Engblom (Suède), Ray Maseko & Vulie Kunene (Swaziland), Oamar Naseem (Pakistan), Arturo Arteage Villaroel (Mexique), Santiago Valone (Argentine), Subrata Dutta (Inde), Julianna Lim Abdullah & Susan Siew (Malaisie).
Les Supporteurs de l'initiative D'Hommes
Erwin Cachuela (Philippines), Jenefer (TOTO) D. Dela Cruz (Philippines), K. Gounaseger (Inde), Theodore Goutas (Grèce), Rulyadi Hadinoto (Indonésie), Mariam Labbok (Amérique), Andy Martahan Andreas (Indonésie), Md Mahabub Morshed (Bangladesh), Jean Musisi (Uganda), Inyoman Pastika (Indonésie), Mosadeq Sahebdin (Mauritius), Fernando Daniel Vallone ( Argentine ), James Achanyi-Fontem (Cameroon), Diogo Mboa (Mozambique).
Le Soutien de L’Initiative d'Hommes
Vous êtes invités à soutenir l’Initiative d'Hommes de WABA en l'endossant sur le site internet. Le formulaire de soutien est disponible sur le site à: http://www.waba.org.my/men/
L'alliance Mondiale pour L'action d’allaitement maternel (WABA) est un réseau global d'individus et organisations impliqués sur la protection, promotion et soutien d'allaitement maternel basé sur la Déclaration d’Innocenti, les Dix Liens pour Nourrir Le Futur et la Stratégie Globale de L’OMS/UNICEF pour la nutrition des nourrissons et Jeune Enfant Alimentant. Ses partenaires de coeur sont le Réseau International D'action pour la Nutrition Infantile (IBFAN), La Leche Ligue Internationale (LLLI), International Lactation Consultants Association Des conseillers (ILCA), Wellstart International, et l’Académie de Médicament Allaitement (ABM). WABA est dans le statut consultatif avec Fonds D'enfants des Nations Unies (UNICEF) et un ONG dans Le statut Consultatif Spécial avec Le Conseil Economique et Sociale des Nations Unies (ECOSOC).

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 9^th 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 23^rd November 1992, within the frame work of the law N° 053/90 of 19^th 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 19^th 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 16^th February 1998 was signed by the Secretary of State, HAYATOU Alim. The Registration Certificate N°: 98/RC/GPLI/SG/DAJ of 8^th 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/