info@recdev.org
Way-In Nkwen, Bamenda, Cameroon

Another Service Call at the Africa NCDs Network

RADA was elated that the CEO, was recently elected as Chair of the African NCDs Network. “This means that together with the 5 member team, from West, Central, Southern, East and francophone Africa, the ANN has a timeline to be established by December 2020” said Ferdinant.

The Africa NCDs Network (ANN)

He added that “It is team work. We have these regional representatives and an Interim Advisory Board all working together to establish the Network”. The Africa NCDs Network is an advancement in the effort to make NCDs are priority everywhere. The Vision of the ANN to “Make NCDs a priority in the African Continent” by advocating for NCD prevention and control in the African towards universal health access, affordability and risk factor mitigation.

Ferdinant also indicated that the African Union, African sub regional economic blocks as well as regional partners and stakeholders are the key partners to make policies that will support Africa to hold up to the global NCD burden come to realization.

It is worth noting that Ferdinant was already serving as the Central African sub regional representative to the Interim Secretariat and is currently the Secretary General of the Cameroon Civil Society NCD Alliance (CACSNA) and the President of the Reconciliation and Development Association, RADA.

NCDs currently are responsible for 41 million deaths each year; representing about 70% of annual global deaths. 85% of the premature deaths occurring in Low and middle income countries partly because of limited access to care, and increasing prevalence of the risk factors of tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol misuse and pollution. The Major categories of NCDs responsible for this catastrophe include Cardiovascular Conditions, Cancers, Diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Disease and Mental Disorders. The key risk factor driving these are largely due to increasing urbanization, globalization and demographic aging.

More about NCDs on: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases

Follow the ANN at: https://twitter.com/AfricanNCDsNet

RADA in Collaboration with the Cameroon CS NCD Alliance organizes Panel Discussion and Press Briefing

SUMMARY OF MESSAGES:

  • We all are accountable for our actions and responsible for our environment through good policies.
  • Preventing NCDs makes perfect economic sense.
  • NCDs are slow in progression, a silent pandemic. NCDs kill and everyone is at risk.
  • It’s our duty to sensitize the public on the existence and dangers of NCDs and their risk factors
  • NCDs are a leading cause of poverty in many countries and should be prioritized in ours too.
Nessa Mbatu, Ferdinant M. and Claudette N.

The global week for Action on NCDs is aimed at reawakening people on the presence of NCDs. The action week is in its third year and the theme for this year was ACCOUNTABILITY. RADA Cameroon in collaboration with the Cameroon NCD Alliance, organized a panel discussion\media briefing amidst several other activities under the umbrella national theme “Raising Attention, Promoting Accountability on NCDs at local and national levels in Cameroon”.

This panel discussion was to inform and educate the public on NCDs through the media.  This event was attended by a total number of 35 persons, with 13 media houses represented to cover the event. The panel discussion started at 10:30am. This was a late start due to the power failure which hindered the early start of the discussion. The panelist on board for the discussion where, Mr.Ferdinant Mbiydzenyuy the CEO of RADA/SG of the Alliance, Madam Claudette the North West Delegation of Health, Focal Person for NCDs , Madame Relindis, the Chief of Bureau Health for the Health District and  Madame Mbatu Nessah a youth advocate and representative from Value Health Africa. The Panel was moderated by Irene Mofor, a young Advocate for NCDs.  The panelist present for the discussion were of diverse backgrounds so as to be able to answer the certain question form their various field of understanding. Due to the crisis that was prevailing in the region, the person living with NCDs who was invited to the panel was unable to get a taxi to arrive on time. Also, the Person living with Kidney Disease who is a Journalist and was invited to moderate, was unable to come as she was unwell.  

Recommendations by/To RADA and the CACSNA after the session:

  • Youths should take up the responsibility to go out in to the public and sensitize the people on the risks associated with NCDs, the various risk factors and how to manage and control them.
  • Government should implement a policy ban on the sales of tobacco, sweet drinks and alcohol especially in student environments.
  • There should be an improvement in specialty care given to persons living with cancer, stroke, diabetes and NCDs in general.
  • RADA should come up with programs that will help facilitate the fight against NCDs in the country.
  • As individuals, it is our duty to be aware of the existence of NCDs and work to prevent and control it.
Cross Section of Staff of RADA

To conclude, we all know that NCDs are not Human friendly and they are not biased they do not look at how rich you are or how poor you are nor do they look at how tall and short you are. They affect each and every one of us. Statistics shows that we are truly living in a generation that is more likely to die before their parents due to the risk of NCDs.  So, we have to take action right now to fight against the spread of NCDs. Let stand together and fight this common cause in other to save our future generations to come. Health is wealth.

A detailed report with speakers specific comments to Media is here:

Global Week of Action on NCDs- 2020: Raising Attention, Promoting Accountability on NCDs at Local and National levels in Cameroon

Theme-2020: Accountability

What is the Global Week of Action for NCDs?

NCDs are currently the #1 cause of death and disability in the world, and the burden is disproportionately severe in low- and middle-income countries, where four out of five people with an NCD live. The Global Week for Action on NCDs is organized by the NCD Alliance global and aims to unite the NCD movement each year under a specific theme, concentrating our combined efforts with the aim of reducing the NCD burden globally and increasing health and equality. Join the movement!

Under the banner of “Raising Attention, Promoting Accountability on NCDs at Local and National levels in Cameroon” The Cameroon CS NCD Alliance will be mounting the national stage with activities to raise awareness on NCDs and the need for accountability regarding desired prevention and control SDG targets. The theme for this year’s Week of Action on NCDs is “Accountability”. Activities will put persons living with NCDs at the center of essence for the Week’s action.  

  1. Social Media Activities by all members
  2. Inclusive games at the Baptist Center by CBCHS
  3. Advocacy visits to Mayor, and MoH by CBCHS
  4. Radio Talk shows by CBCHS, RADA, and C3T
  5. Panel Discussion by RADA
  6. Tweet Chats  by RADA
  7. Interactive online Q&A on NCDs by RADA
  8. Zoom Conference – in Collaboration with CORE Group by RADA
  9. Patient meeting – by CBCHS
  10. Press briefing /Conference  by RADA and C3t
  11. Health Talks in Churches  by CBCHS
  12. Publication of statements by all members
  13. NCD Tracts sharing at a Major market by C3t
  14. Zoom Webinar by Rural Doctors

                          See the full time table of Activities below and dates to participate.

SN Activity Dates Organization(s) i/c
1 Disseminate messages on social media
(Contribute to ‘Voices of Change’; Share ‘Voices of Change’ quotes,
champion quote cards, info graphics, video messages or key messages through
social media using the harsh tag, #ActOnNCDs.)		 September 7-13). All Member
organizations
2 Organise inclusive fun games at the Baptist Centre in Bamenda Saturday, September 12  CBCHS
3 Local Council Advocacy visit September
9		 CBCHS
4 Visit to the radio for a Radio program (Radio Talk with Young NCD Advocates) September 8/September CBCHS/RADA
5 Organise
a meeting with Cancer Survivors in view of charting a path for the creation
of Patient Advocacy Group for Persons living with cancer and Survivors of
cancer
 		   CBCHS
6 Publish campaign activities on member
newsletters including the “NCD Voice Newsletter” and “Radates” are in view. 		 September 13- 14th CBCHS/RADA
7 Health Talks in
Churches 		 September 13 CBCHS
8 Statements from member organizations
will be issued on media  (All
Associations) 		 Full Week All Members
9 The
Alliance will also issue a Statement on media  on the global Campaign		 September
9th – 13th		 CACSNA
Secretariat
10 Sensitization
campaign through traditional media including Magic FM, Radio Tiemeni
Siantou(RTS), The Post and Le Messager 		 September 7-13th C3T,
11 Field visit with
Media, CACSNA Team members in Yde, PLWNCD to sensitize population on the
various NCDs followed by the distribution of hydro-alcoholic gels and Flyers
on NCDs at Mvan neighbourhood at the level of travel agencies.		  September 8th 2020 at 14 Pm C3t
12

Two 2- Advocacy visit
to the authorities:
Le Sous
Directeur de la lutte contre les MNTsLe
Directeur de la Promotion de la Santé ou Sous Directeur de la Santé MentaleDélégué
régional de la Santé Publique pour le Centre

(We encourage members in Yde to partake
N.B use your masks along).

 September 10-11, 2020 C3t
13 Panel
discussion/ Press Conference, to discuss the problem of NCDs, the Alliance’s
work on NCDs in collaboration with other partners that will be present in Bamenda
and possibly, Yaoundé. (RADA,).
Topic:
“Accountability on NCDs”		 Friday 11th RADA
14 Zoom
Webinar with CORE Group partners: “Youth Leaders Taking Action:
Developing an NCDs-Focused Accountability Framework.” 		Sept. 9,
2020		 RADA
15 Tweet
Chart with Nigerian Partners		 September
7, 2020		 RADA
16 Online
Interactive Session on “Accountability on NCDs” with RADA CEO.		 Sept. 13,
2020		 RADA
17 Zoom conference for health care
providers in rural areas to discuss their experiences and current actions
taken by stakeholders in supporting persons living with NCDs in the context
of COVID-19		 TBD Rural
Doctors

About the Theme of 2020

Governments have committed to many NCD targets through the United Nations (UN), such as World Health Organization (WHO) NCD targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Accountability mechanisms for NCDs that are currenetly in place can be strengthened by independent civil society-led action, especially at the local and national level. We can all help ensure that commitments made translate into targets met, to turn back the tide on the current NCD epidemic. We’ve seen through COVID-19 the devastating effects of neglect – it’s time to stop making the same mistake with NCDs!- from trade to livelihoods and ultimately, development.
(Adapted from NCDA website).

CEO of RADA Gets Elected as SG of CACSNA!

We are delighted to announce that The CEO of RADA, Ferdinant M. Sonyuy was elected and officially assumed the role of Secretary General of the Cameroon Civil Society NCD Alliance (CACSNA), on July 31, 2020 after an Elective General Assembly.

Ferdinant has served as the Interim Secretary General since the creation of the alliance, and was appreciated by the Caretaker Chair, Prof. J.C Mbanya for his leadership. CACSNA is the Cameroon Civil Society NCD Alliance, whose mission is to ensure a collective voice for NCD prevention and Control in Cameroon. It was started in 2018 after several efforts since 2013.

Eleven (11) organizations came together to initiate this move following a Diabetes and Non Communicable Disease Conference which took place at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, Cameroon, organized by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) in partnership with the Health of Populations in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health.

The Alliance has since received technical support from the Global NCD Alliance which has spearheaded NCD advocacy globally for over 10 years.

The Interim role was lifted by a unanimous 100% vote as the Care Taker Executive mandate ended and the new executive mandated by over 14 delegates from 9 organizations working on chronic NCDs in Cameroon.

Prof. Jean Claude Mbanya, who was the Care Taker Chair, was re-elected as Chair, Dr. Flore Ndembiyembe of the Cameroon Coalition to Counter Tobacco was elected as Chair Elect, and other Board members were also elected.

This mandate will require the leadership team to forge an advocacy agenda to ensure a collective voice for NCD prevention and control in Cameroon for civil society. This comes at a time when persons living with chronic NCDs have greatest risk of dying from COVID-19. This is their first challenge.

We say Congratulations! 🎊🎊🎆

#ActonNCDs

/About RADA/
RADA is a civil society organization with mission to promote community development by building bridges to sustainable solutions in the domains of peace, health, education, agriculture and technology”.

Each of these domains are equally important towards reaching our vision and mission to see sustainable development in our communities. You can know more about our work on NCDs by visiting our website HERE

Self Care: The Six Dimensions of Resiliency

Times like these are those in which even leaders who are looked upon to care for others and give direction tend to need care. It was in this spirit that I manned up to benefit from the Self Care Workshop organized by RADA which focused on the 6 dimensions of resilience. I am glad to share these touching points I received:

The Body
Take time and appreciate your body because there is a spirit that lives in it. Take care of your body. One explanation for death is that we die when the body cannot sustain the spirit inside because it is too ‘butchered’ so to say. We can cause our body to be resilient by eating healthy diets, involving in physical exercises, and sleeping/resting for 6-8 hours a day to function properly. “If you don’t eat food as your drugs, you will eat drugs as your food”.

The Emotions
Emotions are the feelings we feel. If you don’t feel, then probably you are not human. But through circumstances, feelings without control can wreak havoc into our bodies and minds. Asking yourself how you fee is helpful, accepting our emotion especially negative ones and then managing them through self-talk or self-control. A little smile and humor sparks the right mindset toward great comedy of crisis around us.

The Mind:
It is the engine. An even better description is that it is the steering of all directions we drive to. Our minds harbor our thinking. Which is informed by our beliefs. Our beliefs inform us and motivate our actions. That is why as a man thinks, so he is. The key to a resilient Mind is to Re-set your mind. For instance, to depart from negative to positive thoughts.

Security:
We all do need security no matter where we find ourselves but it is highly needed by those in high crime wave areas and conflict embedded environments. When you are faced with fears, you can research about the issues and make an informed decisions such as changing your environment, fortifying your compound with a fence etc.  When you are secure, you feel calm, jubilant, hopeful, happy energetic etc but when insecurity comes in, you feel lonely, sad, fearful, frighten, etc. These are emotions provoked by how secured you feel during a time of crisis and you can managed by your action.

Relationships:
Life is all about networks. Relations are really important for self care resilience. Family, friends, loved ones, mentors colleagues, etc. are gold!  Having them bring more light to your life and the fear of losing them can demoralize you. So enjoy them now because you know they are vital part of your life. Relationships can meet your needs and give you hope to continue moving on like you never imagined. It might even happen in ways you have no idea about. No man can survive as an island. Use whatever unhealthy relationship comes to you as one more stone to build a house that stands firmer. When you feel lonely, you can contact someone in the community of your relationships and receive the support that only fellow loving human can provide. This includes communication, video talks, games, and fellowship with husband/wife, father or mother, brother or sister, friend, colleague, church members, etc. this is the beauty of relationships. Fellowship in online groups that work for you. Enjoy the goodness of friendship.

Purpose and meaning:

You cannot strive to be resilient when you have no purpose for which you want to win.  Your purpose is what drives you and gives you direction for ways out when obstacles mount on you. Be ready and not be found without a life of meaning or purpose each morning you wake up.

The session ended with general summarized and itemized tips on how to take care of oneself. These included Physical Exercise, Socialization (get in contact with friends, families, CEOs, mentors, counselors etc), and Relaxation (meditate, entertain yourself and don’t be a workaholic, take break from COVID-19 news etc).

The Following resources were provided for those who could check them out:

 

Why Resilience is hard
Ted Talk

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS- 4 – Jan- 2020

About RADA:

The Reconciliation and Development Association (RADA) is a young organization that started in 2009 with a focus on youth development and became legalized in 2017.  From 2017 –  2019, we excelled in promoting youth productivity through seminars, workshops and summits, and with a Full time CEO in 2020, engaged fully into our mission to promote community development.

Our vision is driving sustainable solutions to community development by building bridges to sustainable solutions in the domains of health, education, agriculture, technology and peace.

RADA Volunteer Program (RAVOS):

Started in May 2020, with 7 volunteers, RADA has succeeded to continue supporting youths by building their capacity through volunteering opportunities. This second batch is looking for volunteers who can contribute their time, skills and knowledge to create a positive impact and be a significant force for promoting community development in our focus impact areas, as they also learn from our impact strategies.

Please see the different specific areas in which volunteers are needed below and a brief description of responsibilities, qualifications and other requirements.

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES:

  1. Communications Offers (Journalism backgrounds are encouraged)
  2. Public Health experts /practitioners 
  3. Secretariat Duties
  4. Video/Photo Editing and/or Graphics Designing  
  5. Finance Experts
  6. Web Designing
  7. Food Sciences Volunteers
Details:
  1. Communication Related Roles: Managing RADA’s monthly Newsletter content, website Design and functionality and content maintenance, appropriate media, reports on  events, and manage social media content and posting with designed media graphics.

  2. Public Health Related Roles: Public Health Volunteers will assist in Public Health Awareness campaigns, and in the design, collection and entry of health data related data and reports as well as support Health related advocacy efforts in the domain of both infectious and non infectious diseases. N.B They Must have at least an MPH in epidemiology or other public health discipline, a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion or other health related discipline such as nursing or Medical Laboratory Sciences OR have a Sciences University Bachelor Degree.

  3.  Secretariat Duties: These Volunteers will support/assist in performing secretariat duties. Should have at least an HND in Secretariat duties.

  4. Food Sciences:Volunteers in this domain will:

    –Support Geological Agricultural initiatives
    -Support a City Food systems Collaborative initiative
    -Technically Assist Farmers in production of healthy organic fresh produce

    N.B     Food processing, Crop production, Agricultural engineers and Environmental Engineers are desirable.- Support awareness on healthy feeding practices. They will also support:

    – Awareness on the negative impacts of unhealthy diets
    – Advocacy on healthy food procurement and access policies

Volunteer Benefits: The Following are some benefits to volunteering with RADA:

  1. A Certificate of Volunteerism: At the end of the Volunteering period, RADA will issue Certificates of Volunteering and a Letter of Recommendation based on the work of the Volunteer
  2. Hard Skills building while working: You will build your hard skills in the area of volunteering interest.
  3. Soft Skills building: You will learn how to work in an organization, and better prepare yourself for employability
  4. Employability: For those who need employment, you will increase your employability with RADA or other organizations through RADA’s internal capacity building initiatives.
  5. Meaningful engagement: We are pleased to invite people to join in doing some meaningful work for the community during their period of volunteering. Thereby being part of an impact that is being created in the community.

General Requirements: All applicants must meet the following criteria.

  1. Be 18 years and older
  2. Holder of a university degree or a relevant Technical Diploma
  3. Complete and submit the online application form using the link provided below, specifying the role you wish to volunteer in
  4. Work experience is not a requirement
  5. Good working knowledge of English language (French is an added advantage).
  6. Commitment to the internal policies and regulations of RADA as well as to the values and principles of volunteerism.
  7. Commitment and willingness to work with people in teams as well as in the community and to respect the values of humanitarian work.

Duration: Volunteers MUST chose to volunteer for a minimum of three (3) Months to a maximum of Six (6) Months.

Deadline: The deadline for Applications is Septemeber  30, 2020.

Selection: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview on the first week of October. They shall be expected to come along with Copies of their Credentials and a National ID Card.

Successful applicants will be invited to begin their service by the second week of October 2020.

NOTE:  This is an unpaid volunteering Call. The Volunteering positions are all based in Bamenda, NWR, Cameroon.

RADA shall not be responsible for lodging of volunteers.

 

Click here to Apply

For any inquiries, please email info@localhost or whatsApp +237674733730