Presentation on the Progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 7 in Cameroon.

Group 1 MPH students of the FHS, UB:Buh Amos Wung

Katte IvoEkenja BetrandNasah JudithSamba Melvis

Introduction

• Slow progress towards achievement of MDGs in Africa

• In SSA progress continues to considerably lag behind all other regions of the world

• The 2008/2009 national human development report launched in Yaounde on 29 December 2009 shows that Cameroon made progress only in achieving primary education, promotion of equality of sexes and reducing poverty. By contrast, it fared badly in millennium development goals (MDGs) like maternal health, infant mortality, fight against AIDS, access to potable water and rate of employment.

The group will focus on the progress, Cameroon is making to achieve MDGs 4 and 7

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

• Target: ↓ ⅔ U5MR between 1990 – 2015• Indicator 4.1: U5MR• Cameroon has made little progress like most

countries in central African sub region• 127.2/1000 live births in 2011 compared to

145.2 in 1990 ( 1/3 of 145.2 = 48.4) • (Figure 10)

• African countries north of the Sahara are performing best in reducing U5MR e.g. Egypt.

• Worst performing are countries in the southern African region e.g. Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe etc mostly due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and undernourishment

• Cameroon falls under slow performing countries and this is due to high prevalence of malaria, poor access to basic health services. ( figure 11 progress made by each region).

Indicator 4.2: Infant mortality rate

• UNSD data show that there has been no significant change in IMR in the continent. 82 per 1000 live births.

• Cameroon is not performing well in this indicator; IMR stands at 79.2 in 2011 as compared to 89.9 in 1990

• (See UNSD data table)

Reasons for IMR • High maternal mortality • Poor antenatal care• Lack of skilled personnel ( midwives, gynaecologist

etc); effect of closure of training schools for health personnel

• Poor integrated management of childhood diseases

• Non mastery of management of pediatric HIV/AIDS • Inadequate immunization coverage• Poor access to healthcare delivery ... Etc.

Indicator 4.3: Proportion of one-year-old children immunized against measles

• Data on immunization against measles has been increasing since 1990.Measles coverage 79%(2011)

• Cameroon is making some progress though the expected 90 % coverage have not been attained. (SEE UNSD DATA)

• Cameroon also carries out supplementation of infants with Vitamin A

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

• Target 7a: Integrate the principle of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources.

• Cameroon needs to put in place policies that will address climate change and the use of ozone depleting substances ( explain Data from UNSD)

• Irregular reporting system, importation of 2nd hand fridges that emit chloroflourocarbons that deplete the ozone layer ...etc

Target 7B: Reduce biodiversity loss and achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss

• Indicator 7.6-proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected• From UNSD data, Cameroon has made significant progress in this

domain.• But many environmental challenges still awaits us following:-Construction of Kribi deep seaport-Lompaga & Mevele dam project-Extensive plantation agriculture ;e.g. Herakles farms-Drilling of petroleum along the coastal shores by Cosmos gas and

OilLittle measures taken to protect and preserve forest and marine life

Target 7C: Halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic

sanitation.

• Indicator 7.7: proportion of population using an improved drinking water source.

• There has been a progressive increase in the use of an improved drinking water source.

• Great disparity between urban and rural population. See UNSD data

Actual situation on the ground

• Accessibility to portable water remains a major problem across the country

• Regular shortages observed frequently in towns like Buea, Yaounde, Douala etc

• Emergence of water borne diseases like cholera • This may be due to rapid growth in population,

poor maintenance of water networks, poor infrastructure, privatization of the only water company

Indicator 7.8: Proportion of people using an improved sanitation facility

• Very little has been made in this indicator. • Only 1% achievement since 1990 till date.

( 48% in 1990 and 49% in 2011).• (confer UNSD)

Reasons for the poor coverage:

• Closure of sanitary schools• Poor town planning• No sewage disposal system• No universal coverage by HYSACAM

Indicator 7.9: proportion of urban population living in slums

• There are fewer slums today as compared to what was obtained in the early 90s.

• There is also no consistent data provided over the years.

• From observation, emerging cities like Buea, Kumba, Bamenda etc are helping to decongest slums of the 2 mega cities :D’la & Y’de

• Though an industrialized area like Douala is still witnessing some degree of slum life.

THE WAY FORWARD• The government should train and employ skilled

personnel who will effectively manage and control childhood mortality

• There should be inter-sectoral collaboration between ministries aimed at achieving the MDGs

• Health care delivery policies should be revisited and modified to suit the MDGs

• There should be regular surveillance and reporting of statistics so as to monitor the progress towards the achievement of the MDGs

The Way Forward cont.

• The laws that guide environmental sustainability should be re-enforced and community should be actively involved in the sustainability process.

References

• Assessing Progress in Africa toward the Millennium Development Goals - MDG Report 2009

• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD): Millennium Development Goals Indicators, the official United Nation site for the MDG indicators (2012 updates)

• Gerald Ndikum (January 08, 2010) Cameroon Is Doing Little to Achieve MDGs, The RECORDER Newsline

End. Thank you for your kind attention.