The first International Mother and Early Childhood Exhibition Fair (SIMAPE) organized in Yaounde

Initiated by the Ministry of Public Health and its partners, the first International Mother and Early Childhood Exhibition Fair (SIMAPE) took place from May 26 to June 3, 2023, in Yaounde, Cameroon. As a multisectoral approach aimed at improving health and well-being indicators for mothers, children and adolescents. The SIMAPE mobilized thousands of public and private operators as well as civil society organizations and visitors. UNFPA participated through information sharing, awareness-raising, and advocacy activities. Dr. Justin Koffi, UNFPA Resident Representative, reiterated the need to accelerate the achievement of the Three Transformative Results, which are: ending the unmet needs for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; and ending Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices in the context of a world of 8 billion people.

For a week, the SIMAPE served as a room to showcase some Best Practices from the implementation of UNFPA program in the country. Among them was the mutual support and solidarity fund called Mikrotakaful. It was applied by UNFPA under the guidelines provided by both the Ministry of Public Health and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to help pregnant and lactating women from targeted vulnerable communities have access to reproductive health services and to finance their income-generating activities. Other Best Practices that were showcased are the improvement of the referral system with the help of the EmONC networks and the effectiveness of the mobile clinics to access hard-to-reach communities, including in humanitarian contexts.