Health Policy on Nutrition for the Poorest of the Poor in Cameroon

This report delves into the health policy concerning nutrition for the poorest of the poor in Cameroon, examining the socio-economic factors contributing to malnutrition and poverty. It highlights the challenges faced by the population, particularly women, and explores the impact of poverty on maternal and child health. The report analyzes the current health policies, identifies their shortcomings, and proposes potential solutions, including the involvement of NGOs and government initiatives to improve healthcare access and nutrition. It emphasizes the need for education, awareness programs, and increased healthcare facilities to address the issues of malnutrition and improve the overall well-being of the vulnerable populations in Cameroon. The report also discusses the role of cultural and religious factors and the importance of addressing issues like unemployment and lack of resources to improve the health outcomes in the country.

Health Policy On
Nutrition On The
Poorest Of The Poor
In Cameroon

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Health care nutrition can be defined as the plans and policies which are undertaken just
for the purpose of achieving specific goal within the community or society. Health care policy is
always important because it decided that what should be done to maintain the level of health. In
this file the chosen topic is Health Policy on “nutrition” for the poorest of the poor in Cameroon.
The main topics that are going to be covered in this file will be related with the causes due to
which poor people of Cameroon are facing the problem and what can be the best solution to
overcome them. Even it will include the some of the drawbacks what can be possible outcome of
them (Qureshi, Dixon and Wood, 2015). This is one the important topic as it will discuss about
the political and socio-economic in detail of Cameroon. Also, the main focus will be on poorest
of the poor female population due to which they faces various kinds of issues during there
maternity period.
MAIN BODY
As everyone knows, that there are many of the African which faces various kinds of
problem and Cameroon also among one of them. It is found that 37.5% of the people are below
the poverty line (Cameroon - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line, 2014). The reason
behind all this problem is relate with the land structure as it is situated near sahara desert due to
which there are many of the problem which is being faced by the country. It will be important for
country to bring some of the changes in their plans and policies from which they can overcome
from various kind of problem which s being faced now.
Cameroon is located in Africa whose capital city is Yaounde. The current population of
Cameroon is around 25.19 million in which 49.39% are women, as per various statistics of 2019.
(Cameroon Population,2019). There are many of the people are who are living in Cameroon is
facing serious nature of problem and reason behind those issues is poverty. It will be crucial to
know the strength and weakness of the country because that is the only way through which
outcomes can be achieved. It will be important to find the best techniques through which poorest
people can overcome from the problem of heath nutrition. At present, it is found that there
various NGO like (WHO, UNESCO, The Hunger project, CARE etc). which are working just for
the purpose of solving the issues of African countries so it will be crucial that what are there
main aim since that will be one of the effective way through which problem of Cameroon can be
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resolved in future. It is found that due to the climatic condition, lack of opportunity and many
more reason are restricting the countries like Cameroon to overcome from the problem of
poverty. As, rate of poverty is almost the half of total population so it will not be that easy for
government and health care NGOs to provide proper facility to each and every people. After, lots
of research it is found that people are poorest of poor and because of that they are unable to
afford anything upon them. In Cameroon, specially woman have to face this problem more and
due to that they are not able to feed there child. During the time of maternity the females are
required to take additional care but to poverty they are unable to focus on the nutritious diet
which is required during the maternity period.
There are lots of reason due to which country like Cameroon is facing lots of issues. It is
easily found that people living there are unable to get employment which is one of the main
reason that there is high poverty rate. This poverty rate has the direct effect on day to day activity
of people living there. Although, this country is very rich in soil resources but still they are not
able to utilise since they even don't have the ability to take advantages of those resources.
However, there are various approaches which could be applied for dealing with this issue, one
such policy is the health policy on nutrition for the poor women of the country. The culture of
the country it self doesn't allow them to work on their weaknesses and that doesn't allow them to
perform there task (Alkire and Santos, 2014). There are mainly two religion which is being
followed in Cameroon and they are Christianity and Islam. As, it is seen that there is lack of
opportunities in Cameroon so it is not easy for the local people to purchase any of those product
which is good for health and because of this people are unable to maintain their health. While
talking about the facilities which has been given to the local people are not relevant and it can be
seen through results that changes are still required. There is extreme hunger problem due to
which proper care cannot be done. It is also found that water facilities are also not available in
Cameroon and it is one of those reason due to which level of health is decreasing day by day.
Also, female who specially required the healthy diet are also not able to get nutritious diet due to
which both mother and child have to face various kind of problem.
It is seen that the health policies which are implemented in Cameroon is not effective and
due to which it is found that results are always negative for general public of the country. Thus,
this require establishment of a new policy which benefit the women of the country and
effectively contribute positively on social, cultural as well as economical context. The main
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drawback behind this policy is that they are not able to produce those results from which benefits
can be given to poor society. The land structure is not allowing the government to provide the
best facility to their local people who are suffering from unemployment, education, health
problem and many more. The law policies of nutrients are not convenient from the public points
of view (Fanzo and et. al., 2013). The main problem in nutritious diet is related with water
because government is unable to provide the quality of drinking water which is suitable for the
better health of Cameroon people. From the collected data, it is found that there are lots of
transferable diseases found in Cameroon but it still people are not aware of that and it is seen that
just to give additional nutrition to child parents give those food through which there family also
get infected of those diseases. As per the latest policies of government of Cameroon, it is written
that each and every female should be treated equally where it is necessary that none of the
female will be discriminated on the basis of income.
The nutritious policies which were commenced for the women who are in the maternity
stage are not suitable for the women. The reason behind unsuitable was that there were very few
number of healthcare facility where it is never easy to treat each and every women and provide
them the facilities which are beneficial for them. So, there are some of the changes required
through which appropriate healthcare facilities can be provided to everyone.
From the past records and data it is found that African continent has to always face
various kind of issues and the reason behind that is lack of awareness and education. Even,
Cameroon is also one of the country which is suffering from the diseases Plague due to which
many of the people suffer from various kind of problem such as fever, headache and weakness.
Even there is a shortage of professional medical which can be found by the result that Cameroon
is only able to provide 2 doctors for every 10000 people which is one of the socking result
(POVERTY IN CAMEROON, 2018). These are some of the reason which should be watched
carefully if country wants to overcome this types of problem. In addition, the main reason behind
the suffering from various kind of diseases is lacking of fertile soil and because of that country
is unable to produce each and every food products which are required for the body. In order to
fulfil the wants of people they are required to kill most of those animals which are not healthy for
body.
Everything in Cameroon is against there community & culture and because of that proper
nutrients diet is not being provided to every people. Even government is also not contributing
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their best through which best benefits can be provided to those society where ratio of poor people
is high. The ratio of awareness program is not up to the level of standard which is beneficial for
every individuals. Even country is also poor due to which are not able to afford all those health
conscious food from other countries which is also one of the problem for them.
There are mainly seven types of nutrients which are required for human body whether
they are rich or not and they are water, carbohydrates, protein-Amino acids, Vitamins, minerals,
Fat, Omega-3 fatty acids. But, it can be understood that due to the land structure of Cameroon it
is not possible to meet out this all nutrients (Sedda and et. al., 2015). So from all this matter it
can be understood that people of Cameroon are facing lots of problem and to overcome from this
all they are required to work on there plans and policies through which proper care can be done.
Firstly, it is very important for the government that how they think about those people
who are poor and unable to fulfil there basic needs. It is a difficult task for them but they must
come up with new ideas and policies. So, for that government should try to look that how they
can provide education to each and every people because that plays that vital role. The health
policy chosen for the nutrition would be working towards increasing the familiarity of the same
to the government. Moreover, ties with the government would be specified to ensure utmost
nutrition provided to the population of the country, especially women. It will be easy for
everyone to understand the situation from which people can take the best decisions that what
they should eat and what they should not. In upcoming, time even it will be important to conduct
all those awareness programs through which message can be transfer to everyone that what are
those essential things which is required for better health and what should not adopted. Even it
will be helpful for people if government can increase the ration of health care which every 2
doctors on 1000 people because it doesn't allow the people to cure all those diseases from which
they are suffering (Béné and et. al., 2016). The main reason due to which malnutrition policies
were not effective and helpful because there is lack of education among the people which is not
to decided how policies related to malnutrition can be helpful to provide better future the the
women of Cameroon.
Within the social context, the health policy applied for poor within the country would be
applicable in a large scale form and would help raising the standard of living of the people.
Moreover, different NGOs would be established in ties with the policy which would ensure that
social support is provided to the people. As for culture, both Islamic and Christianity vouch for
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giving support to the needy. Thus, this policy would be providing effective health benefits to the
women of Cameroon.
At present, there are numbers of NGOs who are trying to work within the African
continent so that more number of facilities can be provided to the people who are living in that
specific area. It will be really beneficial if those NGOs can show there focus on special to those
people who are poor and survival is quite difficult work for them. Even government should try to
look at all those possible ways through which job opportunity can be created because that is the
only way through which can provide healthy nutrients to everyone and ratio of poorness and
poverty can be reduced. As, it was found that Cameroon is also facing the problem where people
suffers from different diseases and the reason behind that is unhealthy diet so it is necessary that
how healthy diet can be given to the poor community because this problem is mainly found in
those society where ratio of poverty is below the lines (Stupar and et. al., 2012). The main focus
of different NGOs is to check that how they can provide the proper care to those female who are
pregnant. Different NGOs wants to provide the nutritious diet to each and every female so that
they have to not face problem during maternity. Some of the techniques which are being used to
reduce the problem of malnutritions in women by encouraging them to have a healthier food
choices focusing specially on those food products which gives additional vitamins and calories to
the body. This techniques can be helpful for specially for those women who are in the stage of
maternity and required extra healthcare.
It will be important to change some of the health policies which are related with nutrition
and that should be related that how free services can be provided to those people who are facing
various kind of issues. The policy should be made on the basis of previous output because that
will clear out the actual figure that in which area changes are required. Even government should
try to look that how they can provide the best facility to everyone. As, it is mentioned above that
there are lots of transmissible diseases found in Cameroon but people don't have knowledge
regarding it so it will be crucial that how government deal with those situation because it is one
of the main reason that various kinds of problem is arising in modern days. It will be very
important that to changes of the legislation which are related with Healthy and for that
Agriculture Act 2014 still required some of the change where it must be decided that what should
be the seed scale (Nutrition in Public Health: Principles, Policies, and Practice. 2015). Moreover,
the policy should be implemented in such a manner which help the country in enhancing its
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economy as well. Thus, while fulfilling the nutrition needs of the women in the country, this
health policy would also increase life expectancies as women would be able to feed their
children in a better manner which is essential for their appropriate physical and mental growth.
The modern society is totally based upon social media so it can be one of the effective tool from
which education can be given to everyone that what are those essential nutrients which is
required for any human body because visualisation is always helpful to solve any kind of
problem. Also, the results have been changing rapidly and due to which females are not required
face lots of problem which they had to face earlier which means the outcomes are positive in
context of Cameroon.
It will be crucial that how this things implemented to bring the better outcome. So, for
that it is to be understood government is required to look at the health policies which are made
by similar country of Africa which can be beneficial for them (Bird, 2013). Even it is said that if
Cameroon can take the help of WHO then it will be helpful for them as it is one of those NGO in
world which try there best to produce the best outcome by providing the best appropriate
solutions. They can be helpful at the time of spreading the awareness among the people that what
they should be adopted and what should not be. In recent time, UNESCO is trying there best to
solve out the issues of the people who belong to the poor society and even they are unable to
distinguish that what is right and wrong for them (Tchombe and et. al., 2012). The main motto
UNESCO is just to set concept among every one that what should be done so that health level
can be maintained of the people living in Cameroon.
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CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above data and facts that Cameroon is facing lots of
problem in current and reason behind that is land structure the even that have lack of funding.
There are various additional number of reason which shows that poorest people of Cameroon
required some sort of help from different people because that will help them to motivate them in
future. There is the requirement of some of those NGOs which work for the welfare of general
public. While doing various research on Cameroon, some of the evidences which were found are
related with the laws which states that changes are required in many of the section. Also, it will
be more beneficial if government will try to explore more additional field which are related with
the awareness programs because that will help out the people that what is good for their health
and what should not be eaten by them. In the end, it can be said that Cameroon need to work on
there plans and policies where their major focus should on the community which is poor and
unable to survive in the world.
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REFERENCES
Book & Journals
Alkire, S., & Santos, M. E. (2014). Measuring acute poverty in the developing world:
Robustness and scope of the multidimensional poverty index. World Development. 59.
251-274.
Béné, C. and et. al., (2016). Contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food security and
poverty reduction: assessing the current evidence. World Development. 79. 177-196.
Bird, K. (2013). The intergenerational transmission of poverty: An overview. In Chronic Poverty
(pp. 60-84). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Fanzo, J. and et. al., (2013). Diversifying food and diets: using agricultural biodiversity to
improve nutrition and health. Routledge.
Qureshi, M. E., Dixon, J., & Wood, M. (2015). Public policies for improving food and nutrition
security at different scales. Food Security. 7(2). 393-403.
Sedda, L. and et. al., (2015). Poverty, health and satellite-derived vegetation indices: their inter-
spatial relationship in West Africa. International health. 7(2). 99-106.
Stupar, D. and et. al., (2012). The nutrition transition and the human right to adequate food for
adolescents in the Cape Town metropolitan area: Implications for nutrition policy. Food
Policy. 37(3). 199-206.
Tchombe, T. M. S. and et. al., (2012). Psychological undertones of family poverty in rural
communities in Cameroon: resilience and coping strategies. South african journal of
psychology. 42(2). 232-242.
Online
Cameroon - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line. 2014 [Online] Available
Through : <https://knoema.com/atlas/Cameroon/Poverty-rate-at-national-poverty-line>
Cameroon Population. 2019 [Online] Available Through:<http://www.worldometers.info/world-
population/cameroon-population/>
Nutrition in Public Health: Principles, Policies, and Practice. 2015. [Online] Available Through:
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305468974_Nutrition_in_Public_Health_Pri
nciples_Policies_and_Practice>
POVERTY IN CAMEROON. 2018. [Online] Available Through :
<https://borgenproject.org/poverty-cameroon>
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