Cameroon: Boosting Child Health, One Door at a Time

BUEA, PAV – The South West Regional Delegation of Public Health has launched the first round of the 2026 Mother and Child Health Nutrition Action Week, with health authorities aiming to reach at least 95 per cent of eligible children across the region through Vitamin A supplementation and catch-up immunisation.

The week-long campaign, officially launched in Buea on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Governor of the South West Region, will run until July 12 and target children aged 0 to 59 months.

Speaking during the launch, the South West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr Eko Eko Filbert, said the campaign forms part of the government’s broader strategy to improve child survival and strengthen public health across the region.

“This activity concerns the Nutrition Action Week for mothers and children. It includes Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 12 to 59 months and catch-up vaccination for children from zero to 59 months who have missed or are under-vaccinated,” Dr Eko said.

He explained that the campaign has brought together several government ministries and development partners, including the Regional Delegations of Communication, Social Affairs, Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Basic Education and Secondary Education, to ensure widespread public awareness.

According to the Regional Delegate, information about the campaign will be disseminated through traditional media, social media platforms and community networks to ensure that parents and caregivers are fully informed.

“We want everybody to know what we are doing. Information will be shared through social media, regular communication platforms and community mobilisation so that no family is left behind,” he noted.

To maximise coverage, health workers will adopt a door-to-door strategy, carrying Vitamin A capsules directly to households. Fixed and mobile vaccination posts will also be established in strategic public locations, including churches, markets, community halls, and traditional chiefdoms, to reach families unable to access health facilities.

The campaign will further extend to orphanages, centres for persons with disabilities and other specialised institutions to ensure vulnerable children are not excluded. “Our objective is to attain at least 95 per cent coverage by the end of this activity on July 12,” Dr Eko stated.

The Regional Delegate stressed that parents and guardians remain central to the campaign’s success, urging them to ensure eligible children receive both Vitamin A supplementation and any missed routine vaccinations. He described Vitamin A as essential for strengthening children’s immune systems and protecting them against infections.

“It cannot be a success if parents, who are the ones responsible for speaking on behalf of the children, are not aware and do not cooperate with us. This message is for them because children cannot give consent,” he said.

“Vitamin A improves the body’s defence mechanism. When the immune system is strong, children are less susceptible to common infections such as coughs, colds and fever.”

Dr Eko added that adequate Vitamin A intake also plays a critical role in maintaining healthy vision, promoting bone development and preventing complications associated with nutritional deficiencies.

“There are many children who already experience vision problems at an early age. Vitamin A is vital for healthy eyesight. It also contributes to stronger bones and helps prevent conditions associated with poor nutrition,” he said.

The Regional Delegate used the opportunity to caution parents against misinformation surrounding vaccines and public health interventions. “I encourage parents not to listen to false prophets or prophets of doom. They should believe in public health, trust the strategies designed to improve health and embrace these interventions for the benefit of their children, society and Cameroon as a whole,” he urged.

Health authorities have called on communities throughout the South West Region to support the campaign by welcoming health workers into their neighbourhoods and taking advantage of the free services available during the exercise.

The Mother and Child Health Nutrition Action Week forms part of the Ministry of Public Health’s nationwide efforts to reduce child mortality, improve nutritional outcomes and ensure that every eligible child receives lifesaving health interventions.