Vitamin A Supplementation : Upping Innovative Nutrition Assessment, Digitalisation

Despite progress, child mortality rates in Cameroon remain unacceptably high. And the lack of scientific evidence does not help matters. Moreover, data on Vitamin A deficiency in Cameroon is unreliable as it is more than 10 years old, and not appropriate for decision-making.

A Pervasive Problem
At the continental level, Vitamin A deficiency remains a pervasive problem in most Sub- Saharan African countries, with little change over the past two decades. According to a study conducted in 2009, 35 per cent of children in Cameroon aged 12-59 months old suffered from Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency weakens the immune system, putting children and adults at greater risk of disease and early death.

Second Nutrition Summer School
It is for this reason that the international charity, Helen Keller Int’l and the University of Dschang are holding the second Nutrition Summer School on the theme, “Digitization and Other Innovations in Nutrition Research and Surveys in Cameroon.” Running in the University of Dschang in Menoua Division of West Region from April 24-28, 2023, the annual get-together is attended by 100 medical and biomedical Master’s and PhD degree students from State universities and private higher institutions in the country. 

In Order To Professionalize Learning
“The summer school is very important. We signed a partnership agreement with Helen Keller Int’l two months ago. The public lecture is held once a year for university students on a topic relevant to current needs,” explained Prof. Jean Njoya, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching and Professionalisation, University of Dschang. 
“Our Faculty of Medicine is not a classical faculty, thus the students need to be connected with the work milieu in order to implement the professionalization of teaching in our universities. The partnership with Helen Keller is important in terms of professionalization, especially as the faculty was created only a few years ago,” Prof. Njoya added.

Malnutrition And Mortality 
According to Dr Ismael Teta, Helen Keller Int’l Cameroon Country Director, malnutrition contributes directly and indirectly to a half of child mortality in Cameroon. And the major way of reducing child mortality is by tackling malnutrition through its root causes. “In order to do so, we need well trained Cameroonians in nutrition. The University of Dschang offers a programme on Public Health Nutrition, which is supported by Helen Keller Int’l through the Memorandum Of Understanding we signed,” Dr Teta said. 

Innovations In Research, Surveys
Dr Ismael Teta said the theme, “Digitization and Other Innovations in Nutrition Research and Surveys in Cameroon” was to help medical students to achieve measurable progress. With expected key results in sensitizing the public through various media platforms. The Chair of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Zambou Francois Ngoufack, revealed that much was carried out in 2022, with positive results to improve the use of Vitamin A. 

Preparing Medical, Biomedical Students
“We launched the second Nutrition Summer School in Dschang on April 24, 2023. It is not only for the University of Dschang because about 100 Master’s and PhD degree students from 11 higher institutions of education in Cameroon will be trained throughout the week on innovative methods on nutrition assessment. We are particularly proud of the cooperation with the University of Dschang. We are also celebrating the successes of the first Nutrition Summer School in the University of Dschang during which research on Vitamin A was discussed and prioritised. We are already seeing the results because some nutrition research topics will be funded this summer,” Dr Teta disclosed. 

Training Content 
The Nutrition Summer School will amongst other topics, discuss Vitamin A evaluation methods, fundamental research on Vitamin A, operational researc...