Since 2011, the Government of Cameroon has been committed to gender-sensitive budgeting to take account of vulnerable groups in the implementation of its economic and social policy. In 2020, in collaboration with P4H and GIZ, a study was carried out to assess the integration of gender policies in health care in Cameroon. The aim of the study was to analyze the social transformation in favor of women through the budgeting process, using the equity budgeting tool .
According to the results of this study, gender discrimination persists in the healthcare sector, even if efforts are being made to reduce it. Indeed, these inequalities are highly visible in terms of access to certain healthcare services for women and specific groups, particularly in rural areas where the availability of medicines and health centers is a major issue.
The persistence of these inequalities contradicts the political rhetoric and national strategies that call for the elimination of gender-based inequalities. More specifically, the National Health Development Plan (PNDS) calls for the elimination of gender inequalities in strategic axis 3, to improve access to healthcare for all. Taking gender into account in strategic reference frameworks is intended to give us a better grasp of the strategic orientations for gender mainstreaming, which is a cross-cutting issue. Vision 2035 takes this into account in its segments, namely the DSCE 2010-2020 and the SND30.
We can conclude that the workshop held in Ebolowa not only laid the foundations for in-depth reflection, but also revealed a certain political will in this area. However, this will must be translated into concrete action :
- Training players in the budgeting chain ;
- The Ministry of Health assumes leadership of gender implementation in health;
- Ensure equity in all areas of health development.
Good gender-sensitive budgeting promotes access to healthcare for the underprivileged and contributes to the achievement of universal health coverage objectives.
Aminata TOU
CFP-Cameroon
