Children and health journalists association launched

Child nutrition, access to basic education, portable and safe drinking water, quality healthcare and vaccination campaigns are the issues the new Cameroon Journalists for Children and Health (CJCH) association hopes to spotlight, says Nyingchuo Hilary, Executive President of CJCH.

The launching last Friday in Bamenda of the organization with well over 100 journalists in attendance, plus some members of the administration and civil society leaders, gave the new group opportunity to bring to the limelight issues affecting children especially in the build up to the 25th anniversary of the convention on the rights of the child on November 20, Nyingchuo states.

He told the Journal that according to UNICEF, six out of the eight MDGs are directly or indirectly linked to children and few months to the end of the MDGs agenda, we see that much still has to be done and we are certain that the deadline may not permit the expected levels of development the agenda projected to be attained, it is but normal for journalists as information brokers to position as major stakeholders in the post 2015 development agenda and help accelerate the attainment of the post 2015 development agenda since access to information and knowledge remains central for any meaningful development.

“Issues on children and health are aspects of national development very dear to the government of Cameroon and the Governor gave me firm instructions to represent him at this event and assure the support of the administration to this initiative, said the Economic and Socio – Cultural Adviser to the North West Governor, Nji Joseph.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy (CHRAPA), Chongsi Joseph Ayeah said investing in children means investing in the future, adding that if we want an emerging Cameroon by 2035, we must invest in the health and education of our children. He was speaking as Chairman of the event.

Keynote speakers at the event included Prof. Tih Pius Mufih, Director of the CBC health Services, Laura Tufon Anyola, Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Bamenda and Jaire Moutcheu, Communication Advisor of Plan Cameroon and Abang Grace, North West Coordinator of CIPCRE.

Nyingchuo, Publisher of The Informant newspaper and Media Consultant, Ngwainbi Afuh Percy, Freelancer and Communication Advisor with the National Agency for ICT, CHoves Loh, Veteran journalist and Chief of the North West Bureau of Cameroon Tribune, Liengu Regina, news reporter with Cameroon Tribune are the founding executives of the association.