Women and child’s health at stake in Cameroon

Prof. Dieudonné Adiogo, vice-dean of Douala Pharmaceutical School is setting up a project dedicated to Women’s Health: Monitoring and treatment of hypocalcemia and anemia on young women in Cameroon.

This project based on a new nano-diagnostic device in development will be conducted in two phases:

Phase 1: test and validation of the new test on 3000 women from the Douala surroundings with limited health care access.

Phase 2: test and implementation of the new test in remote areas of Cameroon with limited health care access.

The project will contribute to improve the women health by supplementing them in Calicum (Ca) and Iron (Fe) when needed. New born and infants will also benefit from the treatment delivered to their pregnant and nursing mothers. With a corrected level of Ca and Fe, women will feel better and will be able to work in better conditions, thus having an improved quality of life. This project should contribute both to women emancipation and life improvement. 

The pilot study will involve students from Douala University:  students in human sciences will contribute to inform, recruit and then follow up on women participating in the study; students in biology will withdraw the blood samples, perform the newly designed test in comparison to the available method and be also in charge of the data processing. A physician will be responsible for clinical examination and treatment of the patients.

After validation of the new diagnostic device in these previous steps, it will be tested for validation in other areas of Cameroon under various climate conditions. Management and continuation of this part of the project will be discussed with health authorities of the country and with WHO representatives to disseminate this new approach to other African countries.