Staff of the Strengthening Ear and Hearing Care capacities in Cameroon Project have been mandated to uphold safety and safeguarding principles in activity implementation. The Project staff were trained in a 3-day workshop from January 21 to 23, 2025 at the Baptist Center Nkwen in Bamenda. The training was organized in collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The objective of the training was to build the capacities of staff to prepare for potential hazards within the three regions of implementation; Northwest, Center, and Littoral.
At the start of the training, the Director of CBC Health Services, Mr. Ngum Samuel underlined the importance of the CBC Health Services’ safeguarding policy which all staff are mandated to sign at the beginning of their employment. He noted that the training aligns with CBC Health Services expectation to train staff on safeguarding to promote an enabling environment for staff and clients. The Director expressed gratitude to BMZ and CBM for adding value to the provision of health care by building the capacities of project staff. He implored project staff to upload the principles as they carry out project activities.
The training was facilitated by the CBM Regional Security and Safeguarding Advisor for West and Central Africa, Ndikum Terence Awasum and the CBM Country Program Officer for Inclusive Health Initiative, Achatoh Row Ngwa. For three days the trainers drilled participants on safeguarding concept and case management, prevention of sexual exploitation and harassment, stress management, and fire incident management.
During the sessions, participants shared experiences of security and safeguarding incidents. Building on such experiences the facilitators equipped them with practical strategies in addressing security and safeguarding concerns to stay safe. Participants carried out simulations that painted a picture of fire incidence and kipping. The simulation exercises gave participants a feel of the situations they may encounter and how to manage them.
The workshop ended with awards of certificates of participation to the staff. The certificates were handed by the SEEPD Program Assistant Program Manager, Mr. Tamon James on behalf of the Director of CBC Health Services. He charged project staff to be ambassadors of safety and safeguarding in the CBC Health Services and the community they will be working. Mr. Tamon thanked the facilitators for the knowledge shared and promised that the skills acquired would add value to the project.
During work sessions, participants developed strategies and action plans on practically mainstreaming safeguarding in project activities. After the workshop, the staff have the responsibility to sensitize the CBCHS staff and the community on the lessons learned. Staff were encouraged to report safeguarding incidences to the focal persons to prevent their occurrence in the CBCHS. Receiving their certificates of participation, the participants testified that the workshop was timely given that the project will also be implemented in one of the crisis regions, being the Northwest.
