UNFPA has just produced an audio and video DVD titled “Pregnant Woman” decrying the problem of women dying while giving birth.
The fight against maternal mortality has taken another stride in Cameroon. The rate at which women die while giving birth or due to pregnancy related issues, has not left any person indifferent particularly journalists and musicians. This is why a group of journalists and renowned musicians from the different regions in the country have joined their voices in a song titled “Pregnant Woman” to honour the woman folk whom they called divine creature, who gives life and must not die or suffer after giving life. The five-minute audio and video DVD player has been produced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the support of its Ambassador, a Cameroonian artist, Prince Eyango who was able to rally some 20 Cameroonian artists and journalists to come out with the song.
Images in the video depict the sufferings of a pregnant Cameroonian woman and the need for them to go to health centres for proper care during and after delivery. In the two official languages; English and French, and other local languages such as those used in the Northern, Littoral and Centre Regions of Cameroon, popular and young Cameroonian artists such as Prince Eyango, late Bebey Manga, Annie Anzouer, Nguea-La Route, Afo Akom, Majoie Ayi, FINAL D, Avelyne and Big B-ZY send out messages to give a positive image towards child bearing. Late Bebey Manga in a charismatic singing tone told women “You are a divine creature; do not attempt to give birth at home. It is not advisable; please go to the nearest hospital”.
As if they were presenting a news item, Thierry Ngogang and J. Jacques Ze, both journalists, decry the lack of family planning in many homes in these words “she is just from giving birth, why each year a new birth in your family. The body is fragile, give space between each child”. While the former Indomitable Lion, Joseph Antoine Bell joins the singing crew to denounce the non-assistance to women, the artist, Avelyne says no to early marriages for it is impossible to be a mother at 12 years, so communities should stop the babies making babies phenomenon.
The Representative of UNFPA, Alain Sibenaler says the song calls on everybody to act now against maternal mortality. An act in which men cannot be left out; reason why the producer deliberately made sure that the song groups more men than women. He stressed that Prince Eyango and the singing crew are trying to build an advocacy movement around pregnant women so as to foster a system that helps support women in their basic human rights such as health and sexual education.
