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Cameroon

Articles by Cameroon

CAMNAFAW
26 January 2024

Cervical Cancer: CAMNAFAW Calls on Women for Early Screening!

As part of January, the month devoted to raising awareness of cervical cancer every year, the Cameroonian Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW), a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), recently conducted an intense awareness campaign focused on cervical cancer. Their initiatives covered the Littoral region to spread understanding of prevention, screening more women, and providing both medical and psychological support to combat this scourge. "Given cervical cancer's high incidence and mortality in Africa, and January being Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, CAMNAFAW needed to expand its contribution to the fight against this disease - reaffirming our commitment to protecting the health of African girls and women," said Lotti Edjenguele, CAMNAFAW's executive director. IPPF has made tremendous progress in the fight against cervical cancer in Africa. However, it remains the leading cause of cancer death among women on the continent. Early detection is key, but lack of access and education create barriers. CAMNAFAW's on-the-ground action aims to save lives through strategic community engagement. The IPPF member association's messages emphasized the causes, consequences and crucial importance of early screening. Awareness sessions were held with groups of women, including the Women's Awakening Association, the Circle of Solidarity Friends and the Ndongbang Health Air Association. Each dialogue involved about 30 women. Mobilization was also done digitally and door-to-door, specifically targeting the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Free screenings began on January 15 and continue through January 31 at CAMNAFAW's Bepanda and Essec clinics, targeting 200 economically disadvantaged girls and women. "In all disease initiatives, the Cameroonian government prioritizes 'test and treat.' Working alongside institutions, CAMNAFAW also follows this approach. The free cervical cancer screening we offer holds significance as the disadvantaged women we target in this campaign cannot always afford this vital health service for their wellbeing," Lotti explained. All medical staff were dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care. Any suspicion triggers additional testing, with psychological support protocols in place. The Public Health delegation partnered to facilitate referrals to appropriate facilities if cancer is identified. The success of the campaign is evaluated by the number of women who underwent screening, as well as indicators of the number of women informed online and in person, positively diagnosed, and assisted afterward. By tackling cervical cancer through frank discussions and improving access to screening tests, CAMNAFAW is empowering women and raising awareness in Cameroon. To see the informational video produced by CAMNAFAW, click here. The campaign conducted by CAMNAFAW in Cameroon illustrates the strong commitment of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in the Africa region in terms of awareness and fight against cervical cancer. Present on the continent since the 1950s and currently counting 36 member associations and collaborative partners in Africa, IPPF is waging a relentless battle for reproductive health, with a particular emphasis on the prevention and screening of cervical cancer, which is hitting African women hard. By Moctar MENTA

IPPF_Georgina Goodwin_Burundi
31 January 2022

Frontiers in SRHR Access for Women and Youth

The project objective is to improve access to Abortion Self Care (ASC), youth empowerment, and strengthening the use of digital interventions. Budget:  1,500,000 USD Donor: The David & Lucile Packard Foundation Timeline: 2 Years ( January 2021 -  December 2022 ) Project implementation areas: Cameroon, Ghana, Cambodia, and India Partners: CAMNAFAW, PPAG,RHAC, FPAI, Ipas, Y-Labs, and IBIS Key achievements to date: Youth engagement in SRHR advocacy ASC as an option for all clients Digital/m health to increase access to SRHR and CSE Influence national guidelines and policies Review of IPPF IMAP- integrating ASC Generating leanings & sharing Building capacities of start-ups ( YSVF) Virtual immersion program Innovative approaches: Access to SRHR and CSE through digital/m health YSVF -  working with young entrepreneurs to accelerate & enhance existing SRHR solutions Lessons learned: Aggregating client data in DHI, DHIs works best in hybrid models compared to stand-alone models, multi-language engagement

The She Decides Project
01 December 2016

The She Decides Project

From 2018 to 2020, funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the She Decides project, supported IPPF and its local partners in five priority countries – Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Malawi, and Mali – to expand their reach and impact in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly for those who are most marginalized. During the project period, partners provided close to 17 million SRH services at their service delivery points, such as STI screenings, HIV testing, safe abortion, and counselling and access to modern contraceptives such as long-term injectables, surpassing the initial target by 770,000. The vast majority of clients receiving these services (76.5%) are those living below the poverty line, frequently at great distances from existing health services/facilities, who may be internally displaced as a result of humanitarian crises, and are often further marginalized on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Funding through She Decides enabled partners to develop and implement innovative strategies for reaching these populations and the most hard-to-reach regions that had some of the worst SRHR indicators. For example, In Malawi, our Member Association - Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) - expanded its service delivery to rural, under-served communities in four districts (Dedza, Dowa, Mzuzu and Lilongwe) through outreach services, and strengthened provision of a comprehensive package of integrated SRH services through static clinics in 12 districts. Over the course of implementation, FPAM reached approximately 555,186 (over 25 years) women and 659,382 (<25 years) girls with integrated SHR services. A particular focus of the project has been to increase the access of hard-to-reach youth to SRHR information and services, through Youth Life Centers, youth outreach clinics, and intensive involvement of youth in outreach activities and awareness-raising campaigns. In Mali, IPPF Member Association - Association Malienne pour la Promotion et la Protection de la Famille (AMPPF) - used multiple service delivery strategies to expand access to SRH services in some of the most under-served regions of the country, some of them affected by ongoing security risks. It includes the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Gao, and Bamako District. Over the course of the project, AMPPF provided 1,524,825 integrated SRH services to over 556,228 women and girls. AMPPF organized 857 community engagement activities, including outreach at highly attended community festivals, reaching an estimated 41,423 people with positive messages about SRHR. In addition to directly supporting services and community mobilization to reach specific vulnerable populations in each country, She Decides has helped boost partners’ advocacy efforts to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in particular for a more enabling environment in which governments and other key decision-makers are committed to upholding and fulfilling SRHR. Through this project, partners completed 2,005 specific advocacy engagements. Partners contributed to 31 advocacy wins that engender greater respect and protection of SRHR and have long-term implications for the health and wellbeing of women and girls in project countries. Key high-level advocacy initiatives included: incorporation of SRHR in municipal development plans in project regions (Colombia); approval of the National Plan to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Dominican Republic); increasing contraceptive security and transparency around SRH financing (Guatemala); advancing abortion law reform (Malawi); and advocating for the integration of SRH into the COVID-19 response (Mali). Underpinning these interventions was a deliberate effort to build partners’ overall sustainability through data and financial systems strengthening and sustainability efforts to improve their resilience to future shocks, whether from a sudden loss of donor funding or a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic, which erupted in the last quarter of the project, tested this capacity as partners pivoted quickly to provide continuity of services and to advocate for the inclusion of SRHR as part of the emergency response. For more information, visit the project report: GAC/She Decides Report

Fane Zara
14 January 2022

The BMZ Project: Supporting People Affected by Humanitarian Crises in sub-Saharan Africa

The BMZ project supported refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Togo, in accessing quality sexual reproductive health care and in setting up income generating activities. Watch our video to find out how. Also watch the stories of beneficiaries reached through the BMZ project: BMZ Beneficiary story: Cameroon BMZ Beneficiary story: Burkina Faso BMZ Beneficiary story: Togo

Cmaeroon cover
29 June 2021

Adapter les services de planification familiale en temps de crise: Adoption d’une approche de prestation de services à domicile au Cameroun

La pandémie de la COVID-19 a exercé une pression énorme sur le secteur de la santé, poussant les gouvernements à consacrer leurs ressources à des mesures de prévention et de traitement de cette maladie. La pandémie a gravement affecté la prestation des services de routine dans les établissements de santé, la priorité  n’étant pas accordée à certains services essentiels, tels que les soins de santé sexuelle et reproductive. De nombreux établissements de santé ont réduit leurs services ordinaires, certains les ont suspendus ou ont même dû fermer certaines cliniques. Les mesures de confinement et les restrictions de mouvement imposées par les gouvernements ont entrainé une faible fréquentation des établissements de santé, une situation encore aggravée par la crainte prouvée par la population de contracter le virus dans les centres de santé. En conséquence, de nombreuses adolescentes, des femmes en âge de procréer, des hommes et des jeunes n’ont pas pu accéder aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive dans leurs centres de santé habituels. Ces services comprenaient, entre autres, l’accès des contraceptifs, des services de soins anténatals, d’accouchement sans risque et de soins postnatals, des services relatifs au VIH et au SIDA, ainsi que la prise en charge et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST). Les associations membres (AM) de la F d ration internationale pour la planification familiale (IPPF) qui proposent des services de santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR) de qualité et abordables n’ont pas été épargnées, et pour y faire face, elles ont dû faire preuve d’innovation. Au Cameroun, l’association membre de l’IPPF dans le pays — l’Association camerounaise pour le bien- être familial (CAMNAFAW) — a décidé de répondre à la forte baisse du nombre de clients sollicitant des services dans ses installations en adoptant une approche innovante de prestation de services à domicile. Cette stratégie a permis à la CAMNAFAW de continuer à offrir à ses clients les services de santé reproductive dont ils avaient tant besoin pendant la pandémie. Télécharger le document complet ici: Adoption d’une approche de prestation de services à domicile au Cameroun

IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou
16 December 2015

Parliamentarians are Key to Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa

African parliamentarians must seek ways of mobilizing resources to fund the demographic dividend agenda in their countries. This is according to the IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou, who made these remarks during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop for African Parliamentarians held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 – 15 December 2015. The meeting, attended by 13 legislators drawn from the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), was aimed at enhancing the legislators' understanding of the concept of the ‘Demographic Dividend’, and their role in moving forward related agenda. The demographic dividend refers to the accelerated economic growth initiated by a rapid decline in fertility and mortality, and which results in a change of the age structure in the population –from one dominated by child dependents to one driven by an economically productive adult workforce. “Harnessing the demographic dividend is fundamental to Africa’s development. A demographic shift in any population is important because of it's direct bearing to among others: economic growth, education levels, poverty levels and the health and well-being of a nation. The current demographic transition in Africa is one that has the ability to steer the next surge of economic growth - with a population characterized by healthier and more educated youth, and who will have greater access to the labour force and economic markets. African leaders therefore need to put in place measures that will ensure that the continent harnesses the dividend from Africa’s youthful population,” he said. A new report from the World Bank reveals that government policies and other related actions undertaken today will increase the likelihood of harnessing various economic and social benefits of demographic change. “Parliamentarians are instrumental in this process, as they are the ones involved in the formulation of policies and legislations. When a country has the right set of policies in place, it is better placed to reap the benefits of a demographic change, hence the need to involve Members of Parliament in all conversations around the demographic dividend. There is no doubt that the demographic dividend can be achieved in Africa, if the right policies are instituted,” said Mr. Kouakou. The capacity building initiative for the African legislators, organized by IPPF and UNFPA and themed: "Moving the Demographic Dividend Agenda: from Ideas to Actions", established a harmonized understanding of the demographic dividend among the MPs, and helped define their level of engagement in advancing this agenda in their countries. A clear roadmap for moving forward the demographic dividend agenda at both regional and national levels was developed during the forum. Members of parliament who attended the forum included: Hon. Chris Baryomunsi (Uganda), Hon. Marie-Rose Nguini Effa (Cameroon), Hon. Jose Manuel Tavares Sanches (Cape Verde), Hon. Mbaidessemel Dionadiji (Chad), Hon. Zalikatou Diallo (Guinea Conakry), Hon. Larry Younquoi (Liberia), Hon. Illa Ousmane (Niger), Hon. Helen Kuyembeh (Sierra Leone), Hon. Dlamini Princess Phumelele (Swaziland), Hon. Highvie Hamdudu (Zambia), Hon. Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman (Nigeria), Hon. Ahmed Babou Babah (Mauritania) and Hon. Sado Nazaire (Benin). In his speech, Mr. Kouakou called on the MPs to take a lead role in mobilizing resources that will ensure that the demographic dividend will be realized in their countries. “Parliamentarians can influence their colleagues and garner their support for the formulation of policies and legislations, specifically those related to population and development. They can call for more budgetary allocation to respective institutions, such as the Ministries of Planning and Development, The Ministries of Health and Education, as well as institutions that focus on the youth. They can also take the lead in seeking innovative ways of mobilizing resources at the local level that would champion population and related issues. Members of Parliament have an unmatched role in steering development in their countries,” he said. Mr. Kouakou further urged the legislators to take advantage of the resource that is partners who have a presence in the region, such as IPPF and UNFPA – entities that are committed to Africa’s growth. Development partners, if convinced that the demographic dividend is key to the growth of the region, will definitely assist in different ways, including offering technical assistance, capacity building and mobilization of resources, he said. “IPPF and UNFPA are committed to this agenda, and are working in collaboration with the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA) to implement a programme that will ensure that all African countries are on track to realizing the demographic dividend. The project is initially slated for implementation in the six countries of Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, with more countries being incorporated in the coming years. We are keen on ensuring that no country is left behind,” he said. The Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), which was established in 2012, seeks to exchange and coordinate action in support of the ICPD Beyond 2014. FPA also seeks to ensure that parliamentarians assist in the implementation of the ICPD Beyond 2014 Agenda by adopting initiatives in population policies, as well as harmonisation of African legislation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). At the Abidjan General Assembly meeting in 2014, FPA reaffirmed its purpose as a regional body established to drive the agenda on population and development at both the national and regional levels.

Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare

The Cameroon National Planning Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW) was created in 1987 to respond to the needs of women who wanted to plan their families and to enjoy higher standards of living. The organization has rapidly grown into the country’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

The challenges facing the people of Cameroon and the organization are severe. This is a country with very high levels of maternal death and child mortality and an HIV prevalence rate of over 10%. Health provision is limited: CAMNAFAW is working tirelessly to deliver to populations in the greatest and most urgent need of SRH support. 

Through its service points, including dedicated youth sites, run by full-time staff and supported by over a thousand volunteers, CAMNAFAW provides a complete suite of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. It offers family planning, vaccination, paediatric care services, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, general laboratory work, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), home-based care, and education programmes aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.

An estimated 80% of clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. These include people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), sex workers, and unmarried men and women. 

CAMNAFAW works in partnership with government and with non-governmental organisations including Care Cameroon, Femmes-Santé-Developpement en Afrique Sub-Saharienne (FESADE), the Youth Development Foundation, OFSAD, Scouts du Cameroun, the Support Centre for New Local Development Alternatives (CANADEL), Service Catholique de la Santé, Service Protestant de la Santé, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA Cameroon), and the Réseau. Camerounais des associations des Personnes vivants avec le VIH (Récap+). CAMNAFAW receives support from the Government of Cameroon, UNFPA, the Government of Japan, the IPPF Japan Trust Fund, Care Cameroun, and CAREF.

CAMNAFAW
26 January 2024

Cervical Cancer: CAMNAFAW Calls on Women for Early Screening!

As part of January, the month devoted to raising awareness of cervical cancer every year, the Cameroonian Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW), a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), recently conducted an intense awareness campaign focused on cervical cancer. Their initiatives covered the Littoral region to spread understanding of prevention, screening more women, and providing both medical and psychological support to combat this scourge. "Given cervical cancer's high incidence and mortality in Africa, and January being Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, CAMNAFAW needed to expand its contribution to the fight against this disease - reaffirming our commitment to protecting the health of African girls and women," said Lotti Edjenguele, CAMNAFAW's executive director. IPPF has made tremendous progress in the fight against cervical cancer in Africa. However, it remains the leading cause of cancer death among women on the continent. Early detection is key, but lack of access and education create barriers. CAMNAFAW's on-the-ground action aims to save lives through strategic community engagement. The IPPF member association's messages emphasized the causes, consequences and crucial importance of early screening. Awareness sessions were held with groups of women, including the Women's Awakening Association, the Circle of Solidarity Friends and the Ndongbang Health Air Association. Each dialogue involved about 30 women. Mobilization was also done digitally and door-to-door, specifically targeting the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Free screenings began on January 15 and continue through January 31 at CAMNAFAW's Bepanda and Essec clinics, targeting 200 economically disadvantaged girls and women. "In all disease initiatives, the Cameroonian government prioritizes 'test and treat.' Working alongside institutions, CAMNAFAW also follows this approach. The free cervical cancer screening we offer holds significance as the disadvantaged women we target in this campaign cannot always afford this vital health service for their wellbeing," Lotti explained. All medical staff were dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care. Any suspicion triggers additional testing, with psychological support protocols in place. The Public Health delegation partnered to facilitate referrals to appropriate facilities if cancer is identified. The success of the campaign is evaluated by the number of women who underwent screening, as well as indicators of the number of women informed online and in person, positively diagnosed, and assisted afterward. By tackling cervical cancer through frank discussions and improving access to screening tests, CAMNAFAW is empowering women and raising awareness in Cameroon. To see the informational video produced by CAMNAFAW, click here. The campaign conducted by CAMNAFAW in Cameroon illustrates the strong commitment of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in the Africa region in terms of awareness and fight against cervical cancer. Present on the continent since the 1950s and currently counting 36 member associations and collaborative partners in Africa, IPPF is waging a relentless battle for reproductive health, with a particular emphasis on the prevention and screening of cervical cancer, which is hitting African women hard. By Moctar MENTA

IPPF_Georgina Goodwin_Burundi
31 January 2022

Frontiers in SRHR Access for Women and Youth

The project objective is to improve access to Abortion Self Care (ASC), youth empowerment, and strengthening the use of digital interventions. Budget:  1,500,000 USD Donor: The David & Lucile Packard Foundation Timeline: 2 Years ( January 2021 -  December 2022 ) Project implementation areas: Cameroon, Ghana, Cambodia, and India Partners: CAMNAFAW, PPAG,RHAC, FPAI, Ipas, Y-Labs, and IBIS Key achievements to date: Youth engagement in SRHR advocacy ASC as an option for all clients Digital/m health to increase access to SRHR and CSE Influence national guidelines and policies Review of IPPF IMAP- integrating ASC Generating leanings & sharing Building capacities of start-ups ( YSVF) Virtual immersion program Innovative approaches: Access to SRHR and CSE through digital/m health YSVF -  working with young entrepreneurs to accelerate & enhance existing SRHR solutions Lessons learned: Aggregating client data in DHI, DHIs works best in hybrid models compared to stand-alone models, multi-language engagement

The She Decides Project
01 December 2016

The She Decides Project

From 2018 to 2020, funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the She Decides project, supported IPPF and its local partners in five priority countries – Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Malawi, and Mali – to expand their reach and impact in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly for those who are most marginalized. During the project period, partners provided close to 17 million SRH services at their service delivery points, such as STI screenings, HIV testing, safe abortion, and counselling and access to modern contraceptives such as long-term injectables, surpassing the initial target by 770,000. The vast majority of clients receiving these services (76.5%) are those living below the poverty line, frequently at great distances from existing health services/facilities, who may be internally displaced as a result of humanitarian crises, and are often further marginalized on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Funding through She Decides enabled partners to develop and implement innovative strategies for reaching these populations and the most hard-to-reach regions that had some of the worst SRHR indicators. For example, In Malawi, our Member Association - Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) - expanded its service delivery to rural, under-served communities in four districts (Dedza, Dowa, Mzuzu and Lilongwe) through outreach services, and strengthened provision of a comprehensive package of integrated SRH services through static clinics in 12 districts. Over the course of implementation, FPAM reached approximately 555,186 (over 25 years) women and 659,382 (<25 years) girls with integrated SHR services. A particular focus of the project has been to increase the access of hard-to-reach youth to SRHR information and services, through Youth Life Centers, youth outreach clinics, and intensive involvement of youth in outreach activities and awareness-raising campaigns. In Mali, IPPF Member Association - Association Malienne pour la Promotion et la Protection de la Famille (AMPPF) - used multiple service delivery strategies to expand access to SRH services in some of the most under-served regions of the country, some of them affected by ongoing security risks. It includes the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Gao, and Bamako District. Over the course of the project, AMPPF provided 1,524,825 integrated SRH services to over 556,228 women and girls. AMPPF organized 857 community engagement activities, including outreach at highly attended community festivals, reaching an estimated 41,423 people with positive messages about SRHR. In addition to directly supporting services and community mobilization to reach specific vulnerable populations in each country, She Decides has helped boost partners’ advocacy efforts to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in particular for a more enabling environment in which governments and other key decision-makers are committed to upholding and fulfilling SRHR. Through this project, partners completed 2,005 specific advocacy engagements. Partners contributed to 31 advocacy wins that engender greater respect and protection of SRHR and have long-term implications for the health and wellbeing of women and girls in project countries. Key high-level advocacy initiatives included: incorporation of SRHR in municipal development plans in project regions (Colombia); approval of the National Plan to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Dominican Republic); increasing contraceptive security and transparency around SRH financing (Guatemala); advancing abortion law reform (Malawi); and advocating for the integration of SRH into the COVID-19 response (Mali). Underpinning these interventions was a deliberate effort to build partners’ overall sustainability through data and financial systems strengthening and sustainability efforts to improve their resilience to future shocks, whether from a sudden loss of donor funding or a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic, which erupted in the last quarter of the project, tested this capacity as partners pivoted quickly to provide continuity of services and to advocate for the inclusion of SRHR as part of the emergency response. For more information, visit the project report: GAC/She Decides Report

Fane Zara
14 January 2022

The BMZ Project: Supporting People Affected by Humanitarian Crises in sub-Saharan Africa

The BMZ project supported refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Togo, in accessing quality sexual reproductive health care and in setting up income generating activities. Watch our video to find out how. Also watch the stories of beneficiaries reached through the BMZ project: BMZ Beneficiary story: Cameroon BMZ Beneficiary story: Burkina Faso BMZ Beneficiary story: Togo

Cmaeroon cover
29 June 2021

Adapter les services de planification familiale en temps de crise: Adoption d’une approche de prestation de services à domicile au Cameroun

La pandémie de la COVID-19 a exercé une pression énorme sur le secteur de la santé, poussant les gouvernements à consacrer leurs ressources à des mesures de prévention et de traitement de cette maladie. La pandémie a gravement affecté la prestation des services de routine dans les établissements de santé, la priorité  n’étant pas accordée à certains services essentiels, tels que les soins de santé sexuelle et reproductive. De nombreux établissements de santé ont réduit leurs services ordinaires, certains les ont suspendus ou ont même dû fermer certaines cliniques. Les mesures de confinement et les restrictions de mouvement imposées par les gouvernements ont entrainé une faible fréquentation des établissements de santé, une situation encore aggravée par la crainte prouvée par la population de contracter le virus dans les centres de santé. En conséquence, de nombreuses adolescentes, des femmes en âge de procréer, des hommes et des jeunes n’ont pas pu accéder aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive dans leurs centres de santé habituels. Ces services comprenaient, entre autres, l’accès des contraceptifs, des services de soins anténatals, d’accouchement sans risque et de soins postnatals, des services relatifs au VIH et au SIDA, ainsi que la prise en charge et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST). Les associations membres (AM) de la F d ration internationale pour la planification familiale (IPPF) qui proposent des services de santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR) de qualité et abordables n’ont pas été épargnées, et pour y faire face, elles ont dû faire preuve d’innovation. Au Cameroun, l’association membre de l’IPPF dans le pays — l’Association camerounaise pour le bien- être familial (CAMNAFAW) — a décidé de répondre à la forte baisse du nombre de clients sollicitant des services dans ses installations en adoptant une approche innovante de prestation de services à domicile. Cette stratégie a permis à la CAMNAFAW de continuer à offrir à ses clients les services de santé reproductive dont ils avaient tant besoin pendant la pandémie. Télécharger le document complet ici: Adoption d’une approche de prestation de services à domicile au Cameroun

IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou
16 December 2015

Parliamentarians are Key to Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa

African parliamentarians must seek ways of mobilizing resources to fund the demographic dividend agenda in their countries. This is according to the IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou, who made these remarks during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop for African Parliamentarians held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 – 15 December 2015. The meeting, attended by 13 legislators drawn from the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), was aimed at enhancing the legislators' understanding of the concept of the ‘Demographic Dividend’, and their role in moving forward related agenda. The demographic dividend refers to the accelerated economic growth initiated by a rapid decline in fertility and mortality, and which results in a change of the age structure in the population –from one dominated by child dependents to one driven by an economically productive adult workforce. “Harnessing the demographic dividend is fundamental to Africa’s development. A demographic shift in any population is important because of it's direct bearing to among others: economic growth, education levels, poverty levels and the health and well-being of a nation. The current demographic transition in Africa is one that has the ability to steer the next surge of economic growth - with a population characterized by healthier and more educated youth, and who will have greater access to the labour force and economic markets. African leaders therefore need to put in place measures that will ensure that the continent harnesses the dividend from Africa’s youthful population,” he said. A new report from the World Bank reveals that government policies and other related actions undertaken today will increase the likelihood of harnessing various economic and social benefits of demographic change. “Parliamentarians are instrumental in this process, as they are the ones involved in the formulation of policies and legislations. When a country has the right set of policies in place, it is better placed to reap the benefits of a demographic change, hence the need to involve Members of Parliament in all conversations around the demographic dividend. There is no doubt that the demographic dividend can be achieved in Africa, if the right policies are instituted,” said Mr. Kouakou. The capacity building initiative for the African legislators, organized by IPPF and UNFPA and themed: "Moving the Demographic Dividend Agenda: from Ideas to Actions", established a harmonized understanding of the demographic dividend among the MPs, and helped define their level of engagement in advancing this agenda in their countries. A clear roadmap for moving forward the demographic dividend agenda at both regional and national levels was developed during the forum. Members of parliament who attended the forum included: Hon. Chris Baryomunsi (Uganda), Hon. Marie-Rose Nguini Effa (Cameroon), Hon. Jose Manuel Tavares Sanches (Cape Verde), Hon. Mbaidessemel Dionadiji (Chad), Hon. Zalikatou Diallo (Guinea Conakry), Hon. Larry Younquoi (Liberia), Hon. Illa Ousmane (Niger), Hon. Helen Kuyembeh (Sierra Leone), Hon. Dlamini Princess Phumelele (Swaziland), Hon. Highvie Hamdudu (Zambia), Hon. Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman (Nigeria), Hon. Ahmed Babou Babah (Mauritania) and Hon. Sado Nazaire (Benin). In his speech, Mr. Kouakou called on the MPs to take a lead role in mobilizing resources that will ensure that the demographic dividend will be realized in their countries. “Parliamentarians can influence their colleagues and garner their support for the formulation of policies and legislations, specifically those related to population and development. They can call for more budgetary allocation to respective institutions, such as the Ministries of Planning and Development, The Ministries of Health and Education, as well as institutions that focus on the youth. They can also take the lead in seeking innovative ways of mobilizing resources at the local level that would champion population and related issues. Members of Parliament have an unmatched role in steering development in their countries,” he said. Mr. Kouakou further urged the legislators to take advantage of the resource that is partners who have a presence in the region, such as IPPF and UNFPA – entities that are committed to Africa’s growth. Development partners, if convinced that the demographic dividend is key to the growth of the region, will definitely assist in different ways, including offering technical assistance, capacity building and mobilization of resources, he said. “IPPF and UNFPA are committed to this agenda, and are working in collaboration with the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA) to implement a programme that will ensure that all African countries are on track to realizing the demographic dividend. The project is initially slated for implementation in the six countries of Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, with more countries being incorporated in the coming years. We are keen on ensuring that no country is left behind,” he said. The Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), which was established in 2012, seeks to exchange and coordinate action in support of the ICPD Beyond 2014. FPA also seeks to ensure that parliamentarians assist in the implementation of the ICPD Beyond 2014 Agenda by adopting initiatives in population policies, as well as harmonisation of African legislation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). At the Abidjan General Assembly meeting in 2014, FPA reaffirmed its purpose as a regional body established to drive the agenda on population and development at both the national and regional levels.

Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare

The Cameroon National Planning Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW) was created in 1987 to respond to the needs of women who wanted to plan their families and to enjoy higher standards of living. The organization has rapidly grown into the country’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

The challenges facing the people of Cameroon and the organization are severe. This is a country with very high levels of maternal death and child mortality and an HIV prevalence rate of over 10%. Health provision is limited: CAMNAFAW is working tirelessly to deliver to populations in the greatest and most urgent need of SRH support. 

Through its service points, including dedicated youth sites, run by full-time staff and supported by over a thousand volunteers, CAMNAFAW provides a complete suite of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. It offers family planning, vaccination, paediatric care services, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, general laboratory work, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), home-based care, and education programmes aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.

An estimated 80% of clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. These include people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), sex workers, and unmarried men and women. 

CAMNAFAW works in partnership with government and with non-governmental organisations including Care Cameroon, Femmes-Santé-Developpement en Afrique Sub-Saharienne (FESADE), the Youth Development Foundation, OFSAD, Scouts du Cameroun, the Support Centre for New Local Development Alternatives (CANADEL), Service Catholique de la Santé, Service Protestant de la Santé, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA Cameroon), and the Réseau. Camerounais des associations des Personnes vivants avec le VIH (Récap+). CAMNAFAW receives support from the Government of Cameroon, UNFPA, the Government of Japan, the IPPF Japan Trust Fund, Care Cameroun, and CAREF.