Mayors in all 360 councils in Cameroon will henceforth partner with other stakeholders to promote community health in their municipalities.
The Public Health Ministry in collaboration with Impact Santé Afrique and UNICEF has launched a project known as “ 360 Council Initiative” aimed at improving the working conditions of community health workers (CHW).
The stakeholders met with mayors at the International Economic Days of Municipalities (JEICOM) 2023 in Yaounde to also advocate for better health projects in the communities.
“We want to reach as many Mayors as possible and make them involved in the promotion of community heath.” Marilyn Noah, Programmes Associate at Impact Santé Afrique told CRTV WEB.
The ‘360 Council Initiative’
It is an initiative that will see mayors promote and improve the working conditions of CHW in municipalities .
According to Marilyn Noah, “CHWs go to remote areas to collect data and save lives. So, we want them to know that they are the perfect relay with the Ministry and the communities.”
Most CHWs cover long distances on foot daily to provide basic health services to people in enclaves zones in Cameroon.
Through this project, the Mayors will have to ensure CHWs in their municipalities receive a monthly pay package commensurate to their work load.
Councils on a good footing
The councils of AKOM, Buea, Penka-Michel, Bangangte and Bikok have already started implementing measures to improve the pay package of CHWs.
Stakeholders are hopeful that councils which are still lagging behind will join the train in no distant time.
CHWs have relied on financial support from external sources for many years. The execution of health projects and remunerating CHWs becomes difficult when sponsors no longer fund projects. To ensure continuity, stakeholders say to sourcing for funds from communities is a better option.
“We want councils to adhere to this project. With our partners – Impact Santé Afrique and UNICEF, we are ready to accompany these councils, reinforce their capacities on the management of community health, and how to mobilize funds. We will help them identify opportunities in their environment that can produce finances. We also want community health services to be decentralized, Koa Eloundou Elizabeth, Chief of Service for Community Health Participation said.”
In 2022, the Public Health Ministry and its partners organized a series of workshops to school mayors on how to promote community health their municipalities.
Kathy Neba Sina
L’article Promoting Community Health: Cameroon’s 360 councils to join the train est apparu en premier sur Cameroon Radio Television.
