Following the strategic roundtable held at the Regional Delegation of Public Health, media professionals are taking center stage for the launch of the first phase of the 2026 Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Week (SASNME). The objective is clear: to transform information channels into powerful tools for community health.
The well-informed journalists.
Meeting on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in the conference room of the Regional Delegation in Buea, key players in print, broadcast, and digital media, including CRTV Buea and My Media Prime, responded enthusiastically to the call from health
authorities. This information and advocacy meeting laid the groundwork for a renewed alliance between public health and communication professionals. Faced with persistent challenges related to vaccination coverage and childhood malnutrition, the Delegation reaffirmed the indispensable role of the media in disseminating accurate and readily available information capable of initiating genuine behavioral change in even the most remote communities.
An integrated and multisectoral health response
The core of this first phase of the 2026 National Immunization and Childhood Care (NICC) campaign remains on a set of free and integrated preventive interventions. Primarily aimed at children under five, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, this program does not rely on a top-down approach. It seamlessly combines routine immunization, intensive vitamin A supplementation sessions, and a rigorous catch-up campaign for children who have missed the regular immunization schedule.
In addition to these essential clinical interventions, healthcare teams will implement an active surveillance system for the early detection of vaccine-preventable diseases. This year, particular attention is also being paid to raising awareness about Universal Health Coverage (UHC), thereby promoting equitable access to basic healthcare for all families in the region. The ambition expressed by health officials is comprehensive: to drastically reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality while strengthening the provision of routine care throughout the Southwest region.
Countering Misinformation with Factual Evidence
Aware of the sociological barriers and risks associated with misinformation, the Regional Delegation officially provided journalists with a complete and standardized press kit. Containing validated key messages, a detailed FAQ, communication guides, and a precise deployment schedule by health district, this tool aims to harmonize media coverage. Communication professionals were urged to counter vaccine hesitancy through the rigorous dissemination of verified facts.
The interactive session that concluded the day laid the groundwork for ongoing dialogue. Faced with the logistical and geographical challenges specific to the Southwest Region, the media and health authorities agreed on the need to maintain direct and transparent channels of communication. By transforming the flow of information into a local service, the SASNME 2026 (National Strategy for the Support of Mothers and Children) ensures it achieves its ultimate goal: to leave no child, nor any mother, behind.
