Non-Communicable: Diseases Cameroon Unveils Combat Strategies

Under the high patronage of Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, Cameroon has launched its First National Symposium on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to address a surging health crisis. Gustave Iyong, the Focal Point for Health and Nutrition at the Prime Minister’s office, opened the two-day event on April 8, 2026, saying the Prime Minister pays particular attention to the health and general wellbeing of Cameroonians. “Cameroon and its partners will continue to work for the promotion of healthy foods,” Gustave Iyong promised. The symposium, organized by the Reconciliation and Development Association (RADA) and the Ministry of Public Health, shifts the focus from clinical treatment to environmental prevention. Mbiydzenyuy Ferdinant Sonyuy, CEO of RADA, argued that "eating right" is a policy issue rather than an individual choice, as citizens are often trapped in environments offering only unhealthy, ultra-processed options. Data revealed at the event shows that NCDs now account for 43 per cent of annual deaths in the country. The situation is visually represented in the country's overstretched healthcare system. In Bamenda Regional Hospital, the dialysis unit is overwhelmed, treating no fewer than 140 patients weekly - each requiring sessions three ti...