Activity Report
FY2011 (The first year)
The project supported by Daiichi Sankyo started in Cameroon in fiscal 2011, and since then a Mother and Child Health Nutrition Action Week*, training for health workers, and baseline surveys (current status of immunization and vaccination, antenatal and postnatal care status, status of mosquito net use etc.) were conducted. Beginning in late October, mobile field healthcare services using a van have began in the Bertoua region. We observed the mobile healthcare services in November.
Mother and Child Health Nutrition Action Week focuses on providing vaccinations.
The van that makes the mobile healthcare
services possible.
Mothers visiting mobile healthcare field clinic.
Nutritional supplements provided with government aid are distributed to mothers with nutritionally deficient babies.
This vaccine transport case, which keeps the vaccines cool, is indispensable for mobile healthcare services.
A baby receives a vaccine while the mother watches attentively.
*Mother and Child Health Nutrition Action Week:
The Regional Delegation of Public Health (RDPH), which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Health, held a week of activities in each health district based on Ministry of Health policies. Objectives include raising the administration rate of deworming for children under five and Vitamin A supplementation for babies (6 to 59 months) and pregnant women, improving the vaccination rate for infants, following up of tracking and reporting on early polio cases. An International NGO, Plan International, supports activities led by RDPH. This project is held twice a year in each of the 16 targeted health districts (held in May and December 2011).
【VOICE】
"This project is line with the Global Health Principles in that it has created a Public-Private-NGO partnership between the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon, Daiichi Sankyo Group and Plan International. Outreach brings primary health care towards the population. We are definitely sure that the package of health activities delivered will contribute to improve maternal and child health, thus reducing mortality rates among the target groups in the areas; feedback from beneficiaries strengthens our hope."
"Primary care is crucial in saving the lives of malnourished and sick children. This project has made it possible for it to be provided."
"The high mortality rate for infants and pregnant and nursing mothers in both of these countries can be explained by a lack of understanding of vaccinations, poor access to health facilities, and the insufficient knowledge and skills of health workers. I often hear appreciation from pregnant and nursing mothers in the target area whose access to health services has improved as a result of the mobile healthcare services. Going beyond that, our project also includes other activities such as training for health workers and raising awareness of vaccines and regular check-ups among pregnant and nursing mothers. By such comprehensive activities, further reduction of these mortality rates can be expected."
"I observed the mobile healthcare services in action in Cameroon and Tanzania. I was surprised by the high expectations that mothers and other community members, administrators, medical workers, and local aid workers have for these activities. I am confident that, by building cooperative relationships with stakeholders and continuing with these activities, we will be able to help lower the infant mortality rate and improve the health of pregnant and nursing mothers."
FY2013 (The third year)
In November, 2013, which is the third year since the beginning of the activities in fiscal 2011, we visited Cameroon to monitor the current status and conduct the award ceremony for the community health workers who have taken the important role of this project.
In Cameroon, in addition to Bertoua, starting Bamenda and Biteng in fiscal 2012, there are, at present, three regions where the mobile healthcare services have been conducted. In fiscal 2014, adding Garoua, we are going to conduct tis project in four regions.
This time, we visited Moghi village in Bamenda, where this service has started in fiscal 2012. Bamenda is located in approximately 370 kilometers north-east from the capital, Yaounde, and it takes more than 7 hours by four-wheel-drive car from the capital.
Arrived Moghi village after 40 minutes ride from Bamenda.
People in Moghi village welcomed us.
Mobile healthcare field clinics in Moghi village
Nurse talking to mothers for their enlightenment and awareness.
Give vaccines to each child
Nurse weighing a child
Record a child growth in the mother-and-baby health record book
Award Ceremony for Community Health Workers
An award ceremony was conducted to praise the community health workers for taking the important role for this project. A certificate of award was sent to the eight outstanding health workers who have contributed to give a good influence on other community health workers. Their dedicated activities support this project.
A certificate of award was sent
Their dedicated efforts were praised
Commemorative photo
A meeting for exchange of ideas with the eight commended community health workers
【VOICE】
The mobile healthcare project has two main strategies: the first is to deliver a minimum package of basic health care in remote communities that are far away from health facilities. The second is institutional support to the government through capacity building of medical staff, community health workers and support to campaigns like mother and child nutritional weeks that are organized twice every year by the government.
There is no doubt that the project has made considerable achievements especially as more outreach posts than expected have been created and more women and children have access to minimum health care. Mobile Healthcare Service has made a noticeable difference to the lives of those it supports living in remote rural communities.