Updates on Current Epidemics

Empowering Health Educators to Champion Healthy Diets in Cameroon

3-Day National Training | Yaoundé

🌍 Overview

From July 17–19, 2025, more than 60 Health Educators from all ten regions of Cameroon gathered in Yaoundé for an intensive 3-day national training on Healthy Diet Promotion. Organized by RADA in collaboration with the LoRDA Research Center, the workshop aimed to equip participants with the tools, data, and strategies needed to combat diet-related illnesses through education, community engagement, and advocacy.

📍 Venue: CBC Health Services Resource Center, Yaoundé
👥 Participants: Health Educators & CSO Representatives from across Cameroon
🎯 Goal: Promote healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

🧠 Day 1: Setting the Foundation — Policy, Economics & Evidence

Day One focused on the economic and policy dimensions of tackling unhealthy diets in Cameroon.
📌 Key Modules:

  • Economic Analysis of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) & ultra-processed products (UPPs)
  • Policy Landscape Review of existing food regulations and health taxes
  • Baseline Assessment of public knowledge and attitudes around nutrition & unhealthy food products

    🗣️ “Let’s raise our children right by helping them not to be addicted to sweetened beverages and ultra-processed products.”  — Prof. Dickson Ndamsa

Each session included engaging Q&A segments that allowed participants to share perspectives and gain clarity on how health taxes and policy advocacy can improve national well-being.

🥗 Day 2: From Knowledge to Practice — Nutrition & Behavior Change

Day Two brought together theory and practical experience, focusing on the role of nutrition in disease prevention and effective community sensitization techniques.
🥦 Module Highlights:

    "The Power of Nutrition" with Dr. Ndi Akwen

        🗣️ “We can avoid 70% of illnesses if we eat well. Good quality food is very important.”

  • Practical Exercise: Participants were grouped and given raw food items to design a healthy, balanced meal using affordable local options.
  • Behavior Change Communication (BCC): Mr. Ferdinant M. Sonyuy emphasized how Health Educators can influence lasting habits through culturally sensitive messaging.
  • Field Plan Development: Led by Magdalene Njerim and Marlen Wango, this session helped teams begin drafting their community outreach plans.

📣 Day 3: Planning for Action — Community Engagement & Campaign Design

The final day focused on translating learning into impact. Participants finalized their 12-week outreach plans to support the launch of the "Healthy Eating Cameroon" campaign, which will run through October 2025.
🎯 Campaign Objectives:

  • Reach 3 million Cameroonians across homes, schools, churches, mosques, and markets.
  • Promote local, affordable foods over processed alternatives.
  • Advocate for stronger sugar taxes, better food labeling, and regulation of unhealthy food marketing

💬 “You don’t need imported food to stay healthy. Go local. Drink less sugar. Support smart food policies.”

📊 Why This Matters

🌍 71% of global deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (like diabetes and heart disease), many linked to poor diets.
⚠️ Key Data Shared During the Training:

  • A 30% SSB tax could generate 66+ billion FCFA annually
  • Cutting sugary drinks could extend life expectancy by 6.6 years per person
  • UPPs & SSBs remain highly consumed, especially among youth, due to aggressive marketing and low cost

    📢 Without bold, community-led action — the public health crisis will only grow.

👏 Acknowledgments

This impactful training was made possible through the collaboration and support of:

  • CBC Health Services – for hosting the event
  • Facilitators & Trainers – including Mr. Ferdinant M. Sonyuy, Dr. Ndi Sirri Akwen, Marlen Wango, and Magdalene Njerim
  • RADA & LoRDA Research Teams – for organizing, coordinating, and providing scientific backing
  • Participants – from every region of Cameroon, for their energy, commitment, and vision

🚀 What’s Next?

The Healthy Eating Cameroon campaign officially launches this month! Health Educators will begin implementing their outreach activities across the country — engaging communities, raising awareness, and driving change.

🔎 Stay tuned for updates on field progress, success stories, and policy wins!

🥬 Join the Movement

Want to support or learn more? Follow our work using the hashtags below, or reach out to RADA for collaboration opportunities.

#HealthyEatingCameroon
#HealthyFoodChoicesMatter
#TaxSSBsAndUPFs
#TrainingHealthEducators
#GoLocalEatSmart

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