Senator Mrs Regina Mundi with the winner of her maiden award
Senator Mrs. Regina Mundi has underscored the urgent need for community-driven action to significantly reduce maternal deaths in Cameroon, stressing that government efforts alone will not be enough to meet national and global health targets.
Citing recent health data, Senator Mundi noted that Cameroon recorded a maternal mortality rate of 258 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, a slight improvement compared to figures from 2022 and 2020. While acknowledging this progress, she described it as slow and warned that reaching the government’s target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 will require stronger grassroots involvement.
Senator Mrs Regina Mundi speaking at the maiden edition of the North West Media Forum
According to the senator, many maternal deaths are preventable if communities take greater responsibility for maternal health. She has consistently emphasized the importance of awareness, early health-seeking behavior, and collective support for pregnant women, particularly in underserved communities.
Senator Mundi believes the media has a critical role to play in this effort. By educating families on the causes of maternal deaths and the importance of antenatal care, she says journalists can help change behaviors that put women at risk. She points out that a significant number of expectant mothers either do not understand the importance of antenatal care or lack the financial means to register at recognized health facilities.
Registration at government health centers costs about 6,000 FCFA, an amount that covers care from pregnancy up to 42 days after delivery under the Universal Health Coverage scheme. Some private health facilities also operate within this framework. Senator Mundi has therefore called on families, including parents, spouses, in-laws, siblings, and community savings groups, to step in and ensure that pregnant women are registered and monitored in accredited health facilities.
She has also drawn attention to delays in reaching health facilities during labor, which she describes as a major contributor to maternal deaths. Senator Mundi encourages communities to organize emergency transport options, such as motorcycles or taxis, so that women in labor can be taken to hospitals without delay, noting that minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
Beyond access to care, the senator has appealed for a change in social attitudes, particularly toward unmarried pregnant girls. She has warned that fear of stigma, punishment, or abandonment often pushes young girls into unsafe abortions, which remain a leading cause of maternal mortality. While discouraging risky behavior, she insists that compassion and support must take precedence over condemnation, as unsafe abortion continues to claim lives.
Senator Mundi has also spoken out against cultural pressures that endanger women’s lives, especially the preference for male children. She cautions that repeated pregnancies or the rejection of medical advice in pursuit of a male child expose women to unnecessary risks, stressing that no cultural expectation should outweigh a woman’s right to life and health.
To strengthen public awareness, Senator Regina Mundi recently sponsored awards for media professionals producing impactful stories on maternal health. The initiative was launched during the maiden edition of the North West Media Forum held in Bamenda, where the three best articles on maternal mortality were rewarded. Branded as the Regina Mundi Maternal Health Reporting Award, the initiative aims to encourage responsible journalism and ensure that well-researched articles are used to educate communities.
Through this advocacy, Senator Mundi says her goal is simple but urgent: to inform, to mobilize communities, and ultimately to save lives. She maintains that reducing maternal mortality is not only a health-sector responsibility but a collective duty that requires the involvement of families, communities, the media, and policymakers working together.
By Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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