Tackling Obesity : Cameroon Baptist Convention Receives Global Recognition

The World Health Organization (W.H.O) and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (UNIATF) have recognised 12 countries and seven non-State actors pioneering innovative, multisectoral approaches to tackling obesity. The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services’ (CBCHS) Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Prevention and Control Programme was one of the seven non-State actors to be recognised with the award and the sole health institution from Cameroon. Representing the Director of CBC Health Services to collect the award was Dr. Manga Simon who has served as Deputy Director for Clinical Services with the CBCHS, now based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
This recognition was bestowed during the 2025 UNIATF Awards, which took place on 25 September 2025 in New York City, during the opening week of the UN General Assembly. The award-winning initiatives showcased innovative approaches to combating obesity, including sugar taxes, digital tools, and school meal programmes, demonstrating the impact of diverse strategies in reducing obesity. The award recognizes innovative and sustained efforts to address the global obesity crisis in Cameroon. According to Dr. Ngum Samuel, Director of CBCHS, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services adopted a comprehensive approach through the "Know Your Numbers" strategy after acknowledging obesity as both a disease and a risk factor for other non-communicable diseases. The programme screens apparently healthy individuals for BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sugar...