Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS) has provided professional orientation and guidance on the implementation of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) programme in Cameroon. The staff orientation workshop took place on 12th January 2023 via the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) platform. Participants included data managers, monitoring and evaluation staff and epidemiologists. Present at this workshop to oversee and ensure its success was the representative of the Director of Operations and Programme Manager, Brice Aoumfo, who is also the Human Resource Officer of the programme, the SLL Programme Coordinator, Dr. Zambou Benjamin and the SLL Coordinator for Cameroon, Mr. Tegomo Alain.  

The workshop’s key objective was to inform staff about SLL activities in Cameroon and to build awareness around GHSS’ work culture to implement the project effectively. Specifically, the data managers, monitoring and evaluation officers and epidemiologists were provided with an opportunity to explore the SLL project objectives and milestones, the location of project sites, planning and reporting, and compliance to work policies. They were also taught how to use data tools, reporting timelines, project performance indicators, and the content to be made available for GHSS’ monthly newsletter production. Participants unanimously agreed that the workshop was timely.

“I now understand the SLL project, the data collection tools and how to report field activities. The work policies and submission of weekly and monthly documents were also comprehensive,” Takoua Doline, a Data Manager in the Far North Region of Cameroon, attested.

The orientation workshop had a similar impact on the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the West Region of Cameroon, Mofor C.A Cornel.  “This orientation workshop was very much anticipated by myself and the rest of the SLL team here in the West Region. It provided great insights into the project’s main and specific objectives and the context of our deployment. The briefing on our main data collection tool and ‘KPIs’ provided details concerning the efficient collection and reporting of our data. The roles and responsibilities were also understood with more depth,” he stated.

Like all other participants, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Littoral Region, Doris Kenfack, left the workshop satisfied. “All key indicators of the SLL project have been well mastered in such a way that I am sure to be able to produce quality data and analysis, thanks to this orientation workshop. I now have a clear picture of who my colleagues are and where I can get or share information for the project’s success,” she noted.

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative is a three-year partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) designed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa and hasten the economic recovery of the continent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Africa CDC is partnering with Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS) to implement the programme in the Central Africa Region. The SLL Programme is expected to acquire vaccines for more than 65 million people in Africa, deliver vaccinations to millions across the continent, lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing in Africa by focusing on human capital development, and strengthen the capacity of Africa CDC.