Zero Litters for Mama's Health

 Cameroon ranks 18th among the 20 countries with the second-highest contributor to maternal and under-five mortality rates globally. Currently, the maternal mortality rate stands at 690 deaths per 100,000 live births. One of the major causes of maternal mortality in the country is poor environmental sanitation and waste disposal, which leads to pollution that directly impacts maternal and child health, particularly in urban areas.

To address this critical issue, « HAPPY MOTHER HAPPY CHILD » launched various initiatives. On Mother's Day 2017, the organization organized a significant 9KM walk to symbolize the nine months of childbearing. During the event, they distributed gift bags containing diapers, bottles, and clothes to underprivileged mothers to support them.

The following year, on Mother's Day, May 13th, 2018, the organization implemented the campaign "WHAT MAMA TAUGHT US" under the theme: « ZERO LITTER FOR MAMA's HEALTH ». This campaign aimed to promote the virtues of cleanliness and their importance to maternal and child health and welfare. The centerpiece of this initiative was an open-street cleanup of litter and dirt, designed to raise awareness of harmful waste disposal practices and their impact on health, national pride, and climate change.

The cleanup campaign spanned a trajectory from Rond Point Maetur Bonamoussadi to Makepe Rond Poulenc in Douala, Cameroon, with volunteers equipped with free safety gear such as gloves, nose masks, visibility jackets, and trash bags. The campaign also involved street debates and sensitization efforts to encourage proper waste disposal habits. Through these efforts, « HAPPY MOTHER HAPPY CHILD » aspires to foster healthier environments, reduce maternal and child mortality rates, and contribute positively to climate change mitigation.