Since June 2023, Cameroon has been implementing the “Healthy Food Market” project in two pilot markets in Douala—Ndogpassi and New Deido—aimed at transforming market practices and improving food safety. The initiative encourages traders to adopt better hygiene and handling practices, addressing long-standing unsafe behaviors such as using formalin to preserve meat and poor stall cleanliness, which contribute to foodborne illnesses.
Foodborne diseases pose a significant health risk in Cameroon and across Africa, where unsafe food affects over 91 million people annually and causes around 137,000 deaths. In Cameroon alone, more than 200 food poisoning cases were recorded in 2024, including 35 children. Surveys and monitoring missions have revealed widespread pesticide residues and poor hygiene practices, highlighting the urgent need for interventions like the Healthy Food Market project.
The project applies a One Health approach, promoting holistic management of risks across human, animal, and environmental health. Supported financially by Sweden and technically by the World Health Organization (WHO), the project develops policies, strengthens surveillance and outbreak response, and advocates for food safety integration into national health strategies. A public-private partnership has also mobilized resources, including sanitation equipment and training for community leaders, stakeholders, and traders.
Traders in the pilot markets have begun adopting better hygiene behaviors, such as cleaning stalls daily, storing waste properly, and avoiding direct contact between food and the ground. These practices have improved market conditions and increased awareness among customers, who now receive guidance on safe food handling. The project has focused on improving governance, communication, and education in markets, with plans to enhance technical and sanitary infrastructure in 2026.
Future measures will include providing clean drinking water, improved sanitation, and wastewater management to further reduce foodborne diseases and protect vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The Healthy Food Market project is helping traders take ownership of safe practices while creating cleaner, safer, and more sustainable market environments.
