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Abstract

ABSTRACT
Purpose. To evaluate the activities of the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) in Strengthening community actions and individual skills for cancer prevention and control in Cameroon. Methods. A health policy analysis was conducted at the NCCP, using a qualitative evaluation approach. Cancer control policies and health promotion events of the NCCP from 2004 - 2019 were evaluated with reference to the Ottawa Charter of health promotion. Results. Minimal activities have been done by the NCCP to strengthen community action towards cancer prevention, including limited partnership programs with some private Cancer control organizations in few regions of Cameroon, but most of these partnerships are not continual, and there are no documented records of the activities done in partnership with some of these organizations. The NCCP does not provide or in-view financial subvention to other cancer control organizations in Cameroon. Furthermore, no remarkable actions have been carried out by NCCP in view of developing individual skills towards cancer prevention, with no education programs designed to empower and support improved health behavior and practices among individuals and population groups, or nationwide campaigns to promote healthy lifestyle. Conclusion. There is need for the NCCP to formulate a health promotion and prevention strategy with an integrated and functional nationwide communication plan on the causes and avoidance of modifiable risk factors for cancers and other Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), and to establish firm and responsible collaboration with cancer control community-based organizations (CBOs) to strengthen their actions and expand their services to all regions.
RÉSUMÉ
Objectif. Evaluer les activités du Programme National de Lutte Contre le Cancer (PNLCa) dans le renforcement des actions communautaires et des compétences individuelles pour la prévention et la lutte contre le cancer au Cameroun. Méthodes. Une analyse des politiques de santé a été menée au PNLCa, par approche d'évaluation qualitative, en comparant les interventions/activités de promotion de la santé mises en place par le PNLCa de 2004 à 2019 à la Charte d'Ottawa. Résultats. Le PNLCa a organisé quelques activités pour renforcer l'action communautaire en faveur de la prévention du cancer, et mis en place des programmes de partenariat avec certaines organisations privées de lutte contre le cancer dans certaines régions du Cameroun. Toutefois, la plupart de ceux-ci ne sont pas continus et il s’est avéré impossible de retrouver des documents en rapport avec les activités menées en partenariat avec quelques-unes de ces organisations. Concernant les subventions financières, le PNLCa n'en a accordé aucune du simplement fait qu’il ne prévoyait de le faire. En outre, aucune action remarquable n'a été conduite par le PNLCa en vue de développer les compétences individuelles en matière de prévention du cancer. Aucun programme d'éducation n’a été conçu afin d’autonomiser et soutenir l'amélioration des comportements et des pratiques de santé chez les individus et les groupes de population, ni de campagne nationale pour promouvoir un mode de vie sain. Conclusion. Il est urgent de mettre sur pied une stratégie de prévention et de promotion de la santé avec un plan de communication intégré, national et fonctionnel sur les moyens de prévention et de lutte contre le canceret les autres maladies non transmissibles ; et d’établir une collaboration ferme et responsable entre tous les acteurs, pour renforcer les actions des organisations communautaires et étendre leurs services à toutes les régions du Cameroun.

Keywords

NCCP strengthening community action developing individual skills cancer prevention Cameroon

Article Details

How to Cite
Abenwie, S. N. ., Tatiana, M. ., Antaon, J. S. S. A., Nseme, E. ., Atenguena, E. ., Hervé, J. N. ., Edo’o, V. D. ., Ndom, P. ., & Essi, M.-J. . (2021). Activities of the National Cancer Control Program in Strengthening Community Action and Developing Individual Skills for Cancer Prevention in Cameroon (2004-2019).: Individual skills for cancer prevention in Cameroon. HEALTH SCIENCES AND DISEASE, 22(11). https://doi.org/10.5281/hsd.v22i11.3076

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