The Countdown to 2030 collaboration in Cameroon focuses on data analysis activities monitoring service coverage and inequalities in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH+N). The main national players in the country collaboration are the Programme National de Lutte contre la Mortalité maternelle, Néonatale et Infantile (PLMI) which is supported by the World Bank's Global Financing Facility (GFF) investment package, the Direction de la Santé Familiale (DSF) and the Cellule d'Information Sanitaire (CIS) of the Ministère de la Santé Publique, the Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales of the Université de Yaoundé I, and the Institut National de la Statistique, which is responsible for the technical coordination of the country team's work. The country team is supported by technical and financial partners such as the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and the GFF, whose focal points are participating in the work.

Cameroon team members at the Countdown annual meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in April 2024.

Background

As part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of Cameroon is committed to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services. This includes family planning, information and education, and ensuring that reproductive health is taken into account in national strategies and programs. The aim is to ensure that everyone benefits from universal health coverage, including protection against financial risks, access to quality essential health services and safe, effective and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.

On the international front, the government has signed up to the FP Track 2020, the 2030 initiative; the "Stronger with Breast Milk" initiative; the initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2021; and the global plan to eliminate new HIV infections in children and maternal survival by 2022.

At the national level, the government's commitment is reflected in the implementation of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) monitoring in 2019; the improvement of the maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response system in 2020; the implementation of the first phase of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to reduce financial barriers to accessing healthcare services; the 2016-2027 Health Sector Strategy and several action plans have been drawn up.

The Countdown to 2030 collaboration provides Cameroon with an excellent framework for building national capacity in evidence analysis and evidence generation for monitoring progress of vital interventions in reproductive health, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition.

Outputs, Products, Programs for 2023 - 2025

  • Capacity-building for RMNCAH+N data analysis
  • Analytical reports to inform on progress, gaps and performance of RMNCAH+N based on routine and survey data
  • Policy briefs and other communication materials (posters, newsletters, leaflets)
  • Refereed publications of scientific articles on identified themes relevant to Cameroon and Countdown
  • Valorization of health information system data in relation to RMNCAH+N in the development of national strategic documents.
  • Eliane Assokom was selected as a Countdown fellow for 2024.

Cameroon Countdown Collaboration Team

Alice Rosine Kenne Wado

Anaclet Désiré Dzossa

Joseph Tedou

Moussa Souaibou

Salvador Tala

Alice Ikoula

Micheline Mintop

Adolphe Gustave Nwelndje

Sameul Nhanag

Anicet Désiré Mintop

Arsene Sandie

Joseph Kamgno

Eliane Assokom

Jean Christian Youmba