The preliminary findings show a marked decrease in infant mortality from 83 per cent to 62 per cent in seven years.

Seven months was time enough for the National Institute of Statistics, in collaboration with Centre Pasteur Yaounde, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Public Health, to investigate and come out with findings of health survey in the Cameroon. The preliminary findings were officially handed to the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda yesterday October 31 in Yaounde by the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics, Joseph Tedou. He was joined by Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

From January 24 to August 15 with a target population of 15,000 inhabitants, the Minister noted with satisfaction the level to which health indicators improved in the country in different sectors.

Progress, he said, has been made on the average family sizes in the country which moved to 5.1 in 2011 from five per cent in 2004; though family sizes are still high in rural areas with 6.4 children per family.

Over 61 per cent births as against 59 per cent in 2004 were recorded, the findings revealed. While the West and North West Regions stand tall with 94 per cent, the North, Far North, East and Adamawa Regions have witnessed failure in the domain with 30 per cent, 23 per cent, 46 per cent and 46 per cent respectively. Also significant was the revelation that more pregnant women visit health care centres with strides made in professionalism on the part of health experts. “We can therefore say with satisfaction that infant mortality reduced from 83 to 62 per cent between 2004 and 2011 in every 1,000 children,” André Mama Fouda stressed. Other areas that caught the attention of the Minister are immunisation, sickle cell anaemia, malaria, fertility, child health and breastfeeding. However, results for maternal mortality and HIV prevalence from the Centre Pasteur, Yaounde are still being awaited but Mr André Mama is hopeful that progress will be made.

The preliminary findings of the health survey, the Minister said, will enable government to ameliorate health care in the country while projecting into the future. The areas that recorded drops, André Mama Fouda said, will be given special attention as the country strives to meet the needs of the public in the health sector.

The survey was carried out with financial support from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.