The information was revealed to the press in Yaoundé on Thursday August 25, 2022, at Unicef’s office in Bastos – Yaounde.
“We succeeded to administer some 5.250.000 vitamin A supplements to children age between 6 and 59 months”, says Martin Nankap, nutrition specialist at Unicef – Cameroon.
Also targeted were women who had just given birth.
Martin Nankap, who presented results of the campaign to journalists praised all who put hands on deck for the exercise to be successful, indicating that the campaign was extended to four days and special measures taken to reach children in sparsely populated areas and parents who are on the move.
Besides the supplementation of vitamin A, the campaign equally saw the deworming of close to 5.000.000 children from 12 – 59 months. Children less than 2 years old and who do not yet have a birth certificate were enlisted for the issue of the vital document. Treated mosquito bed nets were also distributed to families during the campaign.
The campaign was not without challenges as the team in the restive North West and South West regions faced difficulties since many have been displaced by the war there. That explains why the regions had the lowest percentages especially the North West.
The field campaign ran from the 13 – 15 of May 2022 thanks to support from the Canadian government, one of Unicef – Cameroon’s vital sponsors.
The next campaign will run between October and November 2022.
