Breast Milk Advocates Evaluate Global Partnerships In Douala

By Martin Nkematabong
The national networking group of infant and young child feeding in Cameroon has urged the government to formulate strategies aimed at sustaining breastfeeding during emergencies. The network met at its 6th ordinary general assembly session in Douala neighbourhood of Bonamikano. Some 27 delegates of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, (FECABPA) operating in the South, Center, Littoral North west and South West regions of Cameroon on Saturday April 24, 2010 converged at the Women Gender Council Counselling Centre in Bonamikano , Bonassama health district in Douala to examine progress made in 2009, through maternal care and infant nutrition programs, to improve on the lives of mothers and children in their respective local communities.
The community health advocates network coordinated by Cameroon Link, an international health NGO in Bonaberi-Douala, also discussed plans to celebrate the 2010 world breastfeeding week, as well as evaluate bilateral cooperation with global partners such as the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).
After an in-depth review of their 2009 activities, both at national and international levels, the conference participants noted that enormous progress is being made to protect mothers and their babies from health crisis, which often result from unhealthy nutrition habits and commercial campaigns.
In his speech, the national coordinator of Cameroon Link, James Achanyi -Fontem, reiterated the fact that human milk is the ideal nourishment for infants' survival, growth and development; that exclusive breastfeeding within the first six months of life stimulates babies' immune systems and protects them from diarrhea and acute respiratory infections -two of the major causes of infant mortality in the developing world, and improves their responses to vaccination. He said in unhygienic conditions, breast milk substitutes carry a high risk of infection and can be fatal in infants.
Mr. Achanyi added that pictures of disasters, including volcanoes, uncontrollable fire outbreaks, earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis are ruffling infants around the world, even when they occur on the opposite side of the globe. He said because these catastrophes naturally affect the quality of water, medical care, food, shelter and other basic necessities, breast milk remains a lifesaving intervention for every child. The speaker added that women need permanent and active support in order to guarantee breastfeeding during emergencies.
The Coordinator of WABA Men’s Working Group and Focal Point for IBFAN Cameroon informed members that the 8th Conference of IBFAN Africa has been scheduled in the month of September 2010 in Mauritius Island and that members should start scouting funds for their travel, accommodation and other issues. The theme of the conference has been announced as, “Breastfeeding, Child Survival and the Role of Infant and Young Child Feeding”.
Meantime, WABA also announced some key events following the WABA Steering Committee Meeting held in October 2009 including the Global Breastfeeding Partners’ Meeting (GBPM) from 17th to 20th October 2010 under the theme "Enabling Mothering: Keeping Mothers and Babies together".
The International Coordinator of the World Breastfeeding Week, Julianna Lim Abdullah reported from WABA Secretariat that WBW celebrants in 2009 were from over 170 countries and that more than 500 events took place globally involving more than 800,000 celebrants. The 2009 WBW was described as the greatest outreach event in its history.
The theme/slogan for WBW 2010 decided by the WABA Steering Committee at its October 2009 meeting is “Breastfeeding - Just 10 Steps! The Baby-Friendly Way.” The general assembly session in Douala was full of fruitful exchanges and learning opportunities, as participants listened to three presentations on breastfeeding and kangaroo care, how to consume fruits and a demonstration on the use of female condom. Details on the presentations can be watched on the YouTube at- http://uk.youtube.com/camlink99/ The breastfeeding song loaded on the Cameroon Link YouTube has been watched by over 8.000 viewers.

FECABPA Tient Sa 6e Assemblée Générale Ordinaire

Par Ossombe Marie Claire,
CASAMAC Ebolowa
COGESID Bonamikano était hôte de la 6e assemblée générale ordinaire de la Fédération des associations camerounaise pour la promotion de l’allaitement maternel le 24 avril 2010 à Bonaberi-Douala. Plus de 20 associations ont pris part aux délibérations sur la coordination de Joséphine Massila de Maleo Santé +, présidente de séance et Ossombe Marie Claire de CASAMAC d’Ebolowa désignée comme rapporteur.
La réunion a commencé avec la prière de remerciement à Dieu qui a protégé les membres pendant leur voyage pour Douala. La présidente de COGESID Bonamikano, Priscille MOUTO, a pris la parole pour souhaiter la bienvenue aux membres de la fédération et quelques observateurs en rappelant l’historique de sa structure crée en 2003.
Priscille MOUTO a fait comprendre que COGESID est affilié à la FECABPA et WABA. Elle n’a pas terminé sa lecture sans évoquer l’objectif de leur mission, qui est d’aider les populations à rentrer à l’origine en faisant pratiquer l’allaitement maternel de manière efficace par les femmes.
Le rapport de la 5e assemblée générale à Yaoundé le 24 janvier 2010 est présenté par NGOUA Jeanne de NOLFOWOP. Dans la présentation, elle rappelle les orientations relatives à la conception des plans d’action de la SMAM 2010. Le thème de la SMAM étant annoncé comme, « 10 Pas ! Une Condition après l’autre sur le chemin des Amis des Bébés »
Au cours de cet entretien, le président de la FECABPA, James Achanyi-Fontem, révèle l’argumentation qu’il faut protéger : promouvoir et soutenir les mères afin de bien allaiter. Il a rappelé les recommandations de l’OMS concernant l’allaitement et le VIH.
Il a conseillé les associations de travailler en collaboration avec les services de district de santé dans leur arrondissement et Département. En travaillant, il faut faire le suivi et évaluation afin d’assurer des actions correctrices, il a ajouté.
Argumentaire
Les établissements de soins de santé jouent un rôle vital dans la mise en place de l’allaitement.
Les Dix Conditions pour le succès de l’allaitement forment un chemin de soutien aux femmes qui leur permet de réaliser leurs intentions d’allaitement et qui guide la formation des professionnels de santé dans le soutien à l’allaitement.
Cette année la Se semaine Mondiale de l’Allaitement Maternel commémore le 20e anniversaire de la Déclaration d’Innocenti, qui appelait à la mise en œuvre des Dix Conditions dans toutes les maternités.
Pendant ces 20 années, plus de 20 000 maternités, environ 28% de toutes les maternités au monde, ont pleinement mis en œuvre les Dix Conditions, et ont été certifiées par l’Initiative Hôpitaux Amis des Bébés (IHAB).
Pendant cette période, les taux d’allaitement exclusif au sein ont augmenté de façon significative.
Toutefois, la réduction du nombre de programmes IHAB de part le monde, une formation insuffisante, et un moindre respect des Dix Conditions dans des maternités déjà accréditées contribuent à la stagnation ou à la baisse des taux d’allaitement maternel exclusif dans de nombreuses situations.
Il est temps de revoir cette approche et de déterminer la direction à suivre par la suite.
Le président de la FECABPA a présenté le plan d’action de WABA en octobre, la décision d’IBFAN Africa de tenir sa 8e Conférence régionale à l’Ile Maurice en septembre 2010. Il n’a pas oublié de signaler que le Cameroun a été félicité par IBFAN Africa pour la mise en pratique de l’allaitement durant les 6 premiers mois de vie par les femmes.
Au cours de la dernière réunion, tous les groupes n’ont pas mis en pratique les activités énumérées. Il était recommandé aux associations de produire les rapports de leurs activités avec les photos afin de prouver leurs existences et compétences.
M. James Achanyi-Fontem a remarqué que la FECABPA n’était pas seulement pour parler des problèmes financières chaque fois, mais aussi d’éduquer ses membres. C’est pour cela qu’au cours de chaque assisse de la FECABPA, les membres, dorénavant développent des thèmes sur la protection des droits de la mère et l’enfant en relation avec la nutrition infantile.
Les membres ont été incités à être à jour pour les cotisations annuelles. Un compte bancaire est déjà ouvert à Douala pour la collecte des fonds de FECABPA et l’autre sera ouverte à Yaoundé pour faciliter l’exécution des plans d’action dans les régions du centre, sud, est et autres.
Au cours de la 6e assemblée générale ordinaire de FECABPA à Bonamikano (Bonaberi-Douala), les membres ont pris quelques résolutions suivantes :
1.En dehors de la Semaine mondiale de l'allaitement maternel célébrée du 1 au 7 août, les organisations membres de la fédération serait s'impliquer dans les événements sur le calendrier reconnue et prévue par le gouvernement à travers le ministère de la santé publique, y compris la Journée internationale de lutte contre le cancer (le 4 Février), International Journée de la femme (le 8 Mars), la Journée mondiale de la santé (le 7 avril), la Journée Africaine pour la réduction de la mortalité maternelle et néonatale, la Semaine national de la protection de la maternelle et infantile, (en Juin), la Journée internationale de l'enfant africain (le 16 Juin), La Journée mondiale de la population (le 11 juillet), la Journée mondiale de la femme rurale (le 16 Octobre), Journée internationale pour l'élimination de la violence contre les femmes (le 25 Novembre) et la Semaine National et Journée mondiale du sida (du 1 - 7 Décembre) de chaque année.
2.Un thème sera choisi pour exposé et échanges pendant les sessions ordinaires prévues sur le calendrier de la fédération chaque trois mois.
3.Les organisations membres doivent être à jour dans le paiement de leurs cotisations annuelles le 15 Juin chaque année, afin d’être qualifié à participer aux réunions d'échanges ou bénéficier d'une formation de renforcement des capacités, ou des subventions de la fédération. Seuls les associations actifs et à jour auront accès aux informations sur le compte de la fédération.
4. Les associations-membres inactifs du conseil d'administration seront remplacés une fois qu'il est porté à la connaissance des participants lors des assemblées générales.
5. Il a été convenu que les membres résidant à Yaoundé et les villes voisines des régions du centre, Est et Sud doivent ouvrir un compte bancaire de la Fédération, tandis que le groupe de Douala gère un compte bancaire similaire pour les activités couvrant les régions du Littoral, Sud-ouest, Ouest et Nord ouest. Cette décentralisation permettra à une forte sensibilisation en faveur des nourrissons sur les droits des mères allaitantes. Le numéro du compte bancaire de la FECABPA au Crédit Communautaire d'Afrique à Douala est 27-2707367-001-1.
6. Il a finalement été convenu que le samedi 17 Juillet 2010, AFFE au Pont So’o sur la route de Mbalmayo – Ebolowa sera l'hôte de toutes les organisations membres de FECABPA avant le lancement officiel de la Semaine de l'allaitement maternel au Cameroun le 1er août par le ministre de la santé publique.
7. Les membres de la FECABPA ont sollicité que le lancement de la SMAM 2010 soit réalisé à Douala dans la région du littoral au Cameroun.
8.Les associations de santé doivent faire connaitre leurs actions sur le terrain en créant le blog sur site d’Internet. Ceci encourage la visibilité des actions de la FECABPA et les associations affiliées à son réseau national et international.
9.L’Assemblée Générale a convenue qu’il est nécessaire que les membres de la FECABPA s’instruisent sur l’utilisation de l’outil informatique, pour permettre les échanges régulières.
Les participants à la 6e Assemblée générale ordinaire de la Fédération des Associations promotion de l'allaitement au Cameroun, en abrégé (FECABPA) étaient les suivantes : COGESID Bonamikano, COGESID Mambanda, Maleo Santé Plus, NOLFOWOP, Cameroon Link, Vine Yard Cameroon, ASSF de Ngwele, AFFE Mbalmayo, MUTSAN, Fine Forest Foundation Cameroun CASAMAC d’Ebolowa et CAFOW. Les représentants la CMA de Bonamikano, de la Foundation Mbororo de Bonaberi et AVIS ont participés comme observateurs. Les représentantes de CASAMAC et CAFOW ont affilié leurs associations à la FECABPA par le paiement des frais d’adhésion de CFA 10.000 chacune.

Exposé sur l’allaitement et la méthode Kangaroo
Par Louis Amagnia Ndema de Maleo Santé +,

Pour donner un grand avantage à la santé du bébé, l’allaitement maternel associé à la méthode Kangourou doit être fait. La méthode kangourou encourage l’attachement du bébé à sa mère et le père car l’enfant est peau à peau devant et non dernière.
Il faut savoir que la chaleur des seins de la mère réconforte et rassure le bébé. En cette position, la mère est obligée de s’occuper de l’enfant parce que ça favorise la montée laiteuse et freine aussi la survenue des crevasses.
Le président de la FECABPA a demandé aux hommes de porter aussi leurs bébés pour encourager les liens et l’attachement comme les mères. C’est aussi un moyen d’aider la mère pour la permettre de se reposer après l’accouchement. Les mères doivent convaincre leurs partenaires à les aider.

Quand prendre les Fruits?
Par Yvonne BEKENY de Cameroon Link

Quand prendre les fruits ? Elle a instruit les membres de la FECABPA à éduquer les populations à manger les fruits avant les repas et non après, pour faciliter une bonne digestion. Il est même conseillé de prendre les fruits sans autre aliments pour évité les problèmes liés aux yeux (la cécité) ou la chute de cheveux.
Il faut encourager les populations à prendre des fruits frais et non les jus artificiels. Les fruits frais possèdent les micros éléments importantes pour la bonne santé. Consommons les fruits de qualité et non ceux que nous trouvons sur la route exposés àla chaleur et au soleil.
Les fruits préparés perdent leurs nutriments et leur enzyme. Consommez les fruits seul au bon moment parce qu’il permet la compensation enzymatique. Pendant qu’on travaille il est conseillé de prendre de l’eau tiède et non glacé pour l’élimination des toxines qui sort dans le corps. L’eau glacé durci les graisses et donne les maladies.
Le dernier exposé était sur l’utilisation des condoms féminine par MAGOUTOU Jacqueline Chi de CAFOW. Voir la démonstration sur le youtube de Cameroon Link -
http://uk.youtube.com/camlink99/

Nestle challenged over health claims

By James Achanyi-Fontem,
Coordinator, IBFAN Cameroon Group
Nestle has been challenged over health claims which tell mothers that its baby milk will 'protect' their babies. Nestle Annual Shareholder Meeting took place on 15th April 2010 at the Palais de Beaulieu, Lausanne, Switzerland.
According to Patti Rundall of Baby Milk Action UK, who attended the meeting, it was probably one of the most dramatic Shareholder meetings that she could remember - though the time that the Tom Butler, the Bishop of Leicester in 1993 challenged them comes a close second.
The brilliant Greenpeace stunt certainly lifted their spirits and caused a major headache to Nestle. It started with a horrendous drilling sound that almost blocked out Peter Brabeck's speech during the session. Pat Venditti of Greenpeace was sitting in front of Patti Rundall who tapped him and asked: "Is this Greenpeace?" and Pat answered, "Maybe". Then sawdust started to trickle down from the ceiling, thousands of leaflets followed by two absailers with huge banner. Fantastic!
As Greenpeace activists cut through the ceiling and absailed into Shareholder Meeting with huge banners and leaflets, Nestlé was held to account for its exploitation of rainforests, for its spying activities and for its failure to abide by baby food marketing standards adopted by the World Health Assembly.
Patti Rundall OBE, Policy Director at Baby Milk Action, picked up on the Chairman, Peter Brabeck's remarks that Nestle considers regulations to be much less important than principles and core values and appealed for shareholders to help in holding management to account for the harm it continues to cause to breastfeeding and infant health, contributing as it does to the needless death and suffering of babies around the world.
She highlighted the deception of the strategy that had been on display at the shareholder meeting the previous year: logos on formula labels claiming the product will 'protect' babies. It is undisputed that babies fed on formula are more likely to become sick than breastfed babies and, in conditions of poverty, more likely to die.
She also challenged Nestle's policy on sponsorship which targets mothers, health workers and children - for example, TV shows in Egypt, baby clubs in the Philippines, school education schemes in India, Health Conference Street banners in Cameroon, websites, medical seminars etc - schemes which are in many instances in violation of World Health Assembly Resolutions and national legislation.
Nestlé Chair, Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, said that because Ms. Rundall did not trust him, Paul Bulcke, CEO and Richard Laube, Head of Nestle Nutrition should respond in detail. Richard Laube defended the 'protect' logo and admitted the practice was being used in 120 countries on cereals and formula, showing it to be a global strategy. He indicated the marketing practice had been going on for some years and will continue, dismissing the suggestion that it was harmful or a violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. For more information, click on the following links - www.babymilkaction.org www.ibfan.org www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk

Expanded Global Breastfeeding Partners’ Meeting (GBPM)

From 17 – 19 October 2010 at Bayview Beach Resort in Penang, Malaysia
A wider network allowing for greater networking among WABA participants
and the Core Partner organisations – ABM, IBFAN, ILCA, LLLI and Wellstart International will be revisiting and celebrating Innocenti 20 years, under the theme “Enabling Mothering: Keeping mothers and babies together” from the 16th – 19th October,2010.
The announcement was released by WABA Co-Directors, Susan Siew and Sarah Amin. The Global Breastfeeding Partners Meeting (GBPM 2010)will include a partners’ technical forum to be organised with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation(SIDA).
It is the first time WABA is organising an expanded GBPM open to participation of the wider network allowing for greater networking among participants and the Core Partner Organisations – ABM, IBFAN, ILCA, LLLI and Wellstart International.
In line with the 20th anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration, the event will open with a celebration of 20 years of action and achievements around the Innocenti as well as reviewing the gaps and areas still needing attention and a strategic response.
The two-day technical meeting/forum on the topic “Enabling Mothering: Keeping Mothers and Babies together,” focusing on the expanded BFHI and Maternity Protection and support for working women will be followed by a business meeting of the Core Partners on the 20th October 2010. This last day event will be by invitation only.
The objectives of the WABA 2010 event are:
♥ To foster greater collaboration with WABA’s Core Partners and other participants to plan and advance the common vision and strategic direction of the breastfeeding movement
♥ To share new technical knowledge and programmatic updates in the areas of the expanded BFHI and Maternity Protection
♥ To celebrate the Innocenti 20 years through creative and other means
♥ To work towards World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2011
The three day event draws on elements of the WABA Global Forum III event originally planned for Quebec City in June 2010, the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) campaigns past and present, the World Breastfeeding Trends initiative (WBTi) and others.
Participants will have plenary and workshop sessions as well as exhibition and other open spaces for the creative arts and celebration!
All WABA friends will take advantage of the space to share their work, resources and creativity. WABA`Co-Directors, Susan and Sarah, are looking at the event as a mother-father/family friendly event!

CRC Confirms Importance of Breastfeeding as Human Right

By James Achanyi-Fontem,
Coordinator, WABA Men’s Initiative
IBFAN’s Human Rights Intern of Child Rights Committee, Ina Verzivolli, described the last CRC session in January 2010 as a great success due to the big impact that IBFAN reports had on the issues that were discussed in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ina Verzivolli added that the session was a great success in terms of promoting breastfeeding as a human right in a summarized results sheet of the CRC session published last February 12. She lauded the work of IBFAN and praised the commitment of members. It is now left for the recommendations to be transformed in action for the continued struggle to protect and promote breastfeeding world wide. The summary report was delivered as follows:

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) confirms the importance of Breastfeeding as a Human Right.

January 2010
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has recommended to almost all the countries reviewed during its last session (Session 53, January 2010), to protect and promote breastfeeding as a fundamental right of the child. These recommendations were the consequence of reports submitted to the Committee by National IBFAN Groups on the situation of breastfeeding in their countries. IBFAN considers this a great achievement in relation to its mission of upholding breastfeeding rights for children and mothers all around the world.
The 53rd session of the Committee of on the Rights of the Child, took place in Geneva in January 2010. Eight countries were reviewed on their efforts to implement the Convention of the Rights of the Child: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mongolia, Norway, Paraguay and Tajikistan. In almost all reviews, breastfeeding was on the top list of health-related issues.
IBFAN groups from six of the countries under review had submitted reports about the situation of breastfeeding in their countries. These reports highlight the main problems in relation to infant and young child nutrition, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, maternity protection at work and the situation of maternal health.
The Committee published its recommendations to the national governments at the end of the review process. In six out of eight countries it referred to breastfeeding issues, recommending the governments to take specific measures in this regard. Almost every recommendation in the area of breastfeeding relied on the information provided to the Committee by IBFAN groups. In the case of Cameroun, the Committee adopted the entire list of recommendations made by the IBFAN Group of this country.
The «concluding observations» of the Committee, which take the form of «recommendations» for future action to the national governments, included the following (for a detailed list by country see the table below):
1.Concern about low rates of exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months;
2.The importance of the protection of breastfeeding in national laws and the effective implementation of these laws;
3.Adoption and implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes;
4.Promotion of breastfeeding and the advantages of exclusive breastfeeding;
5.allocation of resources for breastfeeding policies and programmes;
6.Promotion of education on child health and nutrition;
7.Improvement of the data collection systems;
8.Need for governments to engage civil society in drawing national breastfeeding policies and action plans.
Since 1997, IBFAN’s efforts in the field of human/child rights have been to call upon governments to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in particular regarding article 24 on the child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health, optimal nutrition, as well as correct and unbiased information on nutrition. Thanks to our constant reporting (more than 150 reports from IBFAN groups worldwide), IBFAN has succeeded in raising the awareness and attention of CRC Committee members.
This is a great success!
However, much work needs to be done to translate these recommendations into reality. The next step for IBFAN Groups, as well as for every actor in civil society that works in the area of infant and child nutrition, is to push their national government while working hand in hand with it to solve problems and find solutions.

FECABPA Holds 5th Ordinary General Assembly in Yaounde

By Martine Yolande Tsenou,
AFEIMEK Yaoundé
The 5th Ordinary General Meeting of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, held in Yaoundé on the 23rd January 2010. Attended by some 20 representatives of member organisations of the federation, activities in 2009 were reviewed and discussions centred on the plan of action for 2010.
In the annual orientation speech, the National President of FECABPA, James Achanyi-Fontem, started by wishing all a “Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010”, adding that since the creation of the Cameroon national nutrition networking exchange coalition for the promotion of infant and young child feeding on the 14th September 2007, the vision of the organisation has remained the same.
He recalled to members of FECABPA that the vision is to protect, promote and support mothers to breastfeed their babies and feed infants adequately as a right to food, affection and tenderness as the guarantee for good health and well being.
He invited FECABPA members to continue to use the different techniques and strategies taught them during the training at Obala in 2008 for social mobilisation within the context of the expansion of recommendations of the World Health Assembly, World Health Organisation and UNICEF. He announced that WHO published new HIV recommendations to improve health, reduce infections and save lives during the last World AIDS Day 2009. He is the role of health associations to inform communities of the new recommendations published on a good number of health web sites already.
The National President of FECABPA, James Achanyi-Fontem, talked about how to design local action plans within the context of pertinent declarations of the United Nations Organisation and the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals. He invited all organisations to work in close collaboration with health districts in the regions starting from their health areas of locations.
He revealed that the theme for the World Breastfeeding Week 2010 is centred on the ten conditions for successful breastfeeding and that this is visible through the 15 key indicators of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative, WBTi that is considered to facilitate the closure of gaps where little is done in any given country.
Zimbabwe and Cameroon benefitted from the WBTi training in 2009, and the role of those who received the training is to transfer the monitoring and evaluation techniques to other organisations and their colleagues in their countries, who were not opportune.
All trainers in Cameroon agreed that regular monitoring and evaluation could help to identify gaps and close them during planned activities. Speaking on international network planned activities, the National President of FECABPA who doubles as the Coordinator of WABA Men’s Working Group and Focal Point for IBFAN Cameroon informed members that the 8th Conference of IBFAN Africa has been scheduled in the month of September 2010 in Mauritius Island and that members should start scouting funds for their travel, accommodation and meals. The theme of the conference has been announced as, “Breastfeeding, Child Survival and the Role of Infant and Young Child Feeding”.
The Coordinator of Men’s Initiative made it known that Sarah Amin and Susan Siew, who are WABA Co-Directors have also announced some key events following the WABA Steering Committee Meeting held in October 2009. These events have been slated towards the end of 2010, starting with WABA Global Breastfeeding Partners’ Meeting (GBPM) from 17th to 19th October 2010 and the theme for the meeting is "Enabling Mothering: Keeping Mothers and Babies together". The GBPM proper takes place on the 20th October 2010. This will be followed by WABA Steering Committee Meeting from 22nd to 24th October 2010.
On the other hand, the International Coordinator of the World Breastfeeding Week, Julianna Lim Abdullah reported from WABA Secretariat that WBW celebrants in 2009 were from over 170 countries and that more than 500 events took place globally involving more than 800,000 celebrants. The 2009 WBW was described as the greatest outreach event in its history.
With this, Julianna Lim said, WABA is pleased to announce the theme/slogan for WBW 2010 which was decided by the WABA Steering Committee at its October 2009 meeting. The Slogan for WBW 2010 is “Breastfeeding - Just 10 Steps! The Baby-Friendly Way.”
The Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, led by Miriam Labbok was appointed Key Writer for the WBW 2010 Calendar Announcement and Action Folder. Miriam Labbok and her team will work with the WABA Health Care Practices Task Force, Mother Support Task Force and BFHI Working Group.
In an earlier welcome address by the Secretary General of FECABPA, Suzanne Messe, she made a run down of achievements in a balance sheet that showed that the promotion, protection and support of lactating mothers in Cameroon was on a good foot and that exclusive breastfeeding rate for the first six months is on the increase, especially as member organisations now work regularly to protect rights of mothers and babies to adequate nutrition.
ASSF Bonaberi and NOLFOWOP Yaoundé hosted the two ordinary sessions of March 24 and July 9 respectively in 2009. The sessions focused attention on the best strategies to promote mothers’ and fathers’ support groups with the introduction of the Men’s Initiative as an integral part of infant and young child feeding in Cameroon.
Suzanne Messe lauded the technical and material support from WABA, IBFAN, UNICEF and the Ministry of Public health which led to the expansion of activities within communities. The infant and young child feeding groups benefited from international collaboration during the working visits of Dr. Neal Rosenburg and Professor Donna Taliaferro of Washington Nursing College, who researched on HIV stigmatisation amongst health workers in Cameroon. Tobias Zick of the German Neon Magazine visited Cameroon to support Cameroon Link’s action for prevention of violations of the international and national code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes within health facilities.
In November 2009, Cameroon Link facilitated the organisation of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative training for Cameroon in Douala by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Africa) consultant, Pauline Kisanga. During the ordinary general meeting of FECABPA in Yaoundé, members took the following resolutions that:
1. Apart from the World Breastfeeding Week celebrated from the 1st – 7th August, the federation’s member organisations would get involve in other calendar events recognised and planned by the government through the ministry of public health, including International Day to fight against cancer on 4th February, International Women’s Day on 8th March, World Health Day on 7th April, African Day for the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal mortality, Mother and Infant Health and Nutrition Action week in June, International Day of the African Child on 16th June, World Population Day on 11th July, World Food day on 16th October, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25th November and the National and World AIDS Week from 1st – 7th December each year.
2. A theme will be selected for an expose and learning exchange each time the federation holds a quarterly planned ordinary session within the year.
3. Member organisations should be up to date in the payment of their annual dues by June 15 each year to qualify for participation in exchange meetings or benefit from any capacity building training or subventions from the federation. Only active up-to-date members will have access to information on the federation’s account.
4. Inactive members of the Administrative Board would be replaced once it is brought to the knowledge of participants during general meetings. Long term vacancies of some board members were blamed for the non execution of some planned activities of FECABPA.
5. It was agreed that members residing in Yaoundé and neighbouring cities or regions will open and manage a bank account of the Federation, while the group in Douala will run a similar bank account for acceleration of activities covering the Littoral, South West, West regions. It was observed that this decentralisation will help in outreach advocacy in favour of infants and mothers’ rights. The bank account number of FECABPA at Credit Communautaire d’Afrique in Douala is 27-2707367-001-1.
6. It was finally agreed that the Saturday, 24th April 2009 Ordinary General Meeting will be hosted by the Women’s Gender Council (COGESID) Bonamikano and that on Saturday, 17th July 2009, AFFE Mbalmayo will host all member organisations of FECABPA ahead of the joint national launching of the World Breastfeeding Week in Cameroon on the 1st August by the Minister of Public Health.
Participants at the 5th Ordinary General Assembly of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, came from COGESID Bonamikano, Maleo Santé Plus, NOLFOWOP, Cameroon Link, Vine Yard Movement, Alternative Santé, AFFE Mbalmayo, Ahead Biyem Assi, AFEIMEK, Fine Forest Foundation Cameroon and ASSOCASFIASAR Yaoundé.
Fine Forest Foundation Cameroon and ASSOCASFIASAR (Midwives & Nurses Association) representatives attended the national meeting for their first time and decided to be affiliated to the federation by paying their dues.

UNFPA SUPPORTS CAMLINK CODE MONITORING

By James Achanyi-Fontem
Coordinator,IBFAN Cameroon
Authorities of the United Nation Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA, have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon to the importance and place monitoring of the International Code on the marketing of breastmilk substitute in the regulation and promotion of child survival.
The information filtered from a working session organised by the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, on Thursday, 1oth December 2009 in Yaounde with the head of the communication service of the ministry and a senior journalist of Cameroon Tribune.
The UNFPA drew the attention of the minister to an article on activities organised by Cameroon Link (CAMLINK) following the training of trainers’ course by IBFAN Africa in Douala on the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative. The minister was informed that code monitoring was an alert system that keeps formula producers from health facilities, thereby giving the opportunity to breastfeeding mothers to remain attached to World Health Assembly regulations and recommendations by the World Health Organisation. Cameroon Tribune has earlier published a news investigation on company violations of the Cameroon national code issued as law on the 1st December 2005.
A formula production company during that period sponsored a workshop of paediatricians in Limbe and used the trade mark of Bledina to advertise the workshop in violation of articles of the international and national code on the promotion and marketing of breastmilk substitutes in the country.
The same company consolidated its violation with an advertorial in the Eden Newspaper of Wednesday, 9th December 9 – Monday, 14th December 2009. Cameroon Link had during the WBTi training called on the government to create a regulatory committee with the appointment of a national coordinator to check such lapses throughout the country.
In reaction to the flagrant violations world wide through scientific meetings and workshops, a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative statement on formula company-funded study days was issued in the United Kingdom.
UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative had recently received several enquires regarding study days sponsored by formula milk industries. These days range from holding study days nutrition company institutes serving as bridges to reach health staff caring for babies within public and private.
The Baby Friendly Initiative requires that all health-care facilities seeking Baby Friendly accreditation adhere to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Information on formula milks provided to health professionals in order to allow them to support mothers who do not breastfeed, should be scientific, factual and free from promotion.
Health professionals are the ideal conduit for promoting formula milk. They engender public trust and respect and have easy access to virtually all new mothers and babies. The ‘halo effect’ of having mothers associate the company brand with a health professional is highly valued. However, for this to happen, the companies need access to those health professionals. As recently, and in the last 10 years before the publication of the code, company representatives had free access to many health-care premises and they induced health professionals to attend their talks with hospitality and free materials.
The Cameroon Code forbids any penetration of health facilities by company delegates to advertise their brand and donate materials or organise meetings. The companies have now opted the indirect version of sponsoring activities of health professionals in very attractive tourism facilities as an incentive.
With increased support for breastfeeding in the health services, health professionals have gradually become much more aware of the real purpose of this ‘generosity’ and its negative effect on breastfeeding and efforts to support informed choice. Subsequently, much of this easy access to health professionals still has to be stopped in countries like Cameroon.
Sponsored study days are a highly effective mechanism for circumventing workplace controls on access by company representatives and so gaining direct access to health professionals. The study days no longer directly focus on breast and bottle feeding, which would only arouse suspicion, but rather are specialist in nature, focusing on, for example, allergy or growth, thus reassuring prospective participants of their legitimacy. Participants are asked to register for the study day, so providing the company with contact details for future promotional opportunities. At the event itself there are opportunities for introductions, closing statements, odd lectures by company representatives and promotional materials that can be given to everyone who attends. The result of this is health professionals who are highly aware of the company’s brand and product, informed of the product’s key selling points, in possession of company materials and possibly well disposed to the company providing them with ‘free’ education. If any of this is then passed on to parents, the company’s outlay can be justified to shareholders as being designed to increase profits.
The Baby Friendly Initiative standards do not expressly prohibit health professionals’ attendance at formula company study days. However, attendance is strongly discouraged. Any health professional considering attending such a day should ask themselves whether attendance is really necessary for their education, whether it is compatible with their Code of Conduct and responsibilities to implement best practice and what effect their attendance could have on the families they serve. For more information visit the Code Monitoring page at http://cameroonlink.info