Fighting Maternal Mortality in Cameroon- Preconception care: Community Health Outreach
At Talk Pregnancy with Dr. Noella, we are committed to improving maternal and child health in Cameroon by addressing one of the most overlooked areas of women’s health—preconception care.
In our recent community health outreach campaign, we focused on a high-impact strategy: educating women who visit healthcare facilities for their babies’ routine vaccinations. These women are often in their reproductive years and planning future pregnancies, making them ideal candidates for preconception education and early interventions.
During this outreach, we reached over 200 women and 10 men across multiple clinics. We provided vital information on:
- The importance of preconception health check-ups
- Identifying and managing underlying medical conditions before pregnancy
- Proper nutrition, folic acid intake, and lifestyle choices
- Spacing pregnancies through modern family planning methods
- Preventing pregnancy complications through early interventions
This initiative falls under our broader goal to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Cameroon by integrating preconception care services into existing healthcare delivery points.
Many participants were surprised to learn that pregnancy outcomes can be significantly improved by taking action before conception. In fact, over 90% of those we spoke with said they had never heard of preconception care before our visit. We also referred at-risk women and couples for early medical consultations to prevent complications before pregnancy begins.
By incorporating preconception care into vaccination clinics, we’re making health education more accessible, inclusive, and impactful—meeting women where they are and ensuring that no opportunity for intervention is missed.
Why Preconception Care Matters
According to the World Health Organization, preconception care can reduce maternal deaths by up to 23% when underlying conditions are identified and managed early. In Cameroon, where healthcare access and awareness are limited—especially in rural areas—initiatives like this can save lives and strengthen health systems.
Join Us
Are you passionate about women’s health in Africa? Are you a health professional, donor, or NGO interested in supporting maternal health in Cameroon?
Partner with Talk Pregnancy with Dr. Noella to expand this campaign to more communities. Together, we can build a generation of healthier mothers and safer pregnancies.
Contact us today to collaborate or support future campaigns.