Integrated Health for All Foundation, Cameroon

The Integrated Health for All Foundation (IHAF), Cameroon is a Community-Health based organisation. Her seat is in Yaoundé and it has branches in Buea and Bamenda at moment. She is apolitical and non profit making. She is duly recognised by the Cameroon government with Registration: No. 000061/ADR/J06/APPB. As a unique organisation seeking to ensure “good health for all” in local communities of Cameroon, IHAF rely on its experience administrative/research team and inter- and intra-Provincial Networking. IHAF currently has branches in Bamenda, North West Province and in Buea, South West Province. Furthermore, it has one strong Community Network in Menka, Widikum Subdivision, North West Province of Cameroon. The mission of IHAF is to “Ensure Quality Health-for-All amongst the Poorest and Economically Disadvantaged Communities -Depending Solely on Subsistence Agriculture- with Over-crowded Households amongst who are the Young Children, Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women, Orphans and Adolescent Girls, through Education, Improved Nutrition and Health Care” Our Goal: To reduce illiteracy, malnutrition and infection (HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria) rates in local communities in Cameroon until they cease to be major public health problems. To improve the educational, nutritional and health status of the population particularly vulnerable members: young children, pregnant/breast feeding women, orphans and adolescent girls. To improve the capacity of individuals, households and communities to understand and address their nutrition and health problems. To develop community capacity to harness the resources of their immediate local environment aimed at increasing income, food security and access to clean water, and target them to those most vulnerable. To join other stakeholders with similar interest to ensure quality health-for-all. Motivation In Cameroon, the prevalence of pregnant/breastfeeding women, and childhood malnutrition, and infections is alarming and particularly amongst the under-educated class in local communities. Despite efforts of proactive groups, the observed and reported rate of illiteracy/ignorance, malnutrition and infections are on a steady rise. As a result it is not uncommon that one in every five children in local communities suffers from combined illiteracy, malnutrition and synergistic infections. These disorders are responsible for the high motility and mortality rates and stands as undeniable impediments to good health and development. It is therefore very obvious to find out whether such communities, families and individuals are conscious of the influence of their level of education, diets, environment and lifestyle on their health and welfare. Vision: IHAF envision a Cameroon where local communities have very reduced rates of illiteracy/ignorance, malnutrition and infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria…), and have capacity to harness available resources to increase income, food security and access to clean water and health facilities and target them to the most vulnerable. A future where young children, pregnant/breastfeeding women, orphans and adolescent Girls in local communities have improved capacities capable of understanding and addressing their nutrition and health problems, and enjoy equal access to nutrition and health education/facilities.