Healthy Diets for Healthy Communities in Cameroon

In April, FORUDEF facilitated leading its nutrition program amongst women in the village of Akwaya, an isolated village in the rural Southwest region of Cameroon. The community in Akwaya has long experienced the negative impacts of malnutrition; its children not uncommonly suffer from anemia, weakened immune system, and skin rashes and discoloration. Amongst adults, their ability to be economically productive is compromised by low levels of energy and diminished strength. As a result, empowering residents of Akwaya to be able to make healthier dietary choices was critical in terms of achieving better health standards and lifestyle outcomes.

FORUDEF spent two days in Akwaya in May of 2015 to implement the nutrition program with 40 women from the community. Due to the high incidence of health concerns in the village, the participants were eager to be a part of the program. The first day of the program involved the teaching, learning, and discussion component - FORUDEF staff shared the elements of a healthy diet- carbohydrates (in the local pidgin dialect and terminology, referred to as, ‘power chop’), proteins (‘growth chop’), and vitamins and minerals (‘cover chop’). The health concerns that often result from an unbalanced diet were discussed, as well as the health and social outcomes that result from receiving proper nutrients- more energy, greater capacity to do work, greater ability to concentrate and think, stronger immune system. Commonly available foods that contain each of these nutrients were listed, and participants brainstormed with FORUDEF staff various recipes they knew of that included ‘power, growth, and cover chop’.

On the second day, participants joined in cooking a meal together, which provided the opportunity to practically apply the content and discussion from the previous day. Given that protein and vitamin deficiencies are most common amongst individuals living in rural areas of Southwest region, FORUDEF prepared foods rich in these nutrients, such as groundnut soup and vegetable dishes. The participants watched FORUDEF staff while they prepared the dishes, and discussed with staff the ingredients and methodologies they used.  Then, together, participants and staff shared the meal together. The objective was to provide the participants with the knowledge to know how to cook with more nutritious foods available to them, and feel capable of preparing tasty dishes with these foods. As a result of having received additional funding, FORUDEF was able to provide the participants with a seed bank as well.  All participants received bean seeds, enough to plant in their personal or community garden.  The intention is to support the Akwaya community to have greater access to sources of protein, a nutrient that is typically difficult to acquire in Akwaya.  Participants will plant the bean seeds during the next planting season, and will be able to enjoy the benefits of their harvest.  Participants will also be expected to set aside part of their bean crop to return to FORUDEF.  In this way, the seed bank will be replenished for others to draw from in the future. 

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