Advocacy

(an initiative by Expertise France)

They came with their notebooks and a shared conviction: health information can save lives—provided it is carried by trained, committed, and well-organized voices.

On May 25–26, 2026, in Yaoundé, health journalists, media representatives, and civil society organizations—including FIS Cameroon (For Impacts in Social Health)—came together around one table to lay the foundations for a Health Media Club.

Initiated by Expertise France, the meeting took place in a context of growing public health challenges: infectious diseases, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases. In this environment, the quality of information shared with communities plays a decisive role. Yet, health journalism in Cameroon remains insufficiently structured, often practiced without clear standards or spaces for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

It is precisely to address this gap that this two-day workshop brought together key actors from the media and public health ecosystem. The objective was clear: to establish a unifying platform capable of strengthening the capacities of spe

cialized journalists, improving the quality of health-related media content, and increasing its social impact.

Two Days to Build a Shared Vision

The workshop served as a space for dialogue, learning, and co-creation. Participants exchanged views on:

• the challenges of public health communication;

• ethical standards when covering sensitive topics such as patients’ rights, stigma, and epidemics;

• opportunitie

• s offered by digital platforms to amplify health messages.

The presence of FIS Cameroon NGO, a recognized actor in health innovation and in the fight against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, brought a practical and operational dimension to the discussions. The organization—known for its expertise in institutional communication and community mobilization—shared its experience in linking information, advocacy, and civic engagement.

A Health Media Club as a Lever for Sustainable Impact

At the end of the two days, the outlines of a Health Media Club began to take shape. This structure aims to become a true professional hub—a space where health journalists can:

• build their capacity;

• share investigations and best practices;

• develop partnerships with public health actors;

• and play a stronger role in shaping national health policy debates.

The creation of this Media Club marks an encouraging milestone. It reflects a growing collective awareness:
in the face of Cameroon’s public health challenges, a skilled, well-equipped, and united specialized press is not a luxury—it is a necessity