Cleaner markets for safer food in Cameroon

Douala -Along with Senegal, Cameroon is implementing the "Healthy Food Market" project in the city of Douala through two pilot markets: New Deido and Ndogpassi. Coordinated by the urban municipality, this project aims to strengthen the prevention of foodborne diseases and improve hygiene, sanitation and food safety, with the goal of gradually spreading these good practices to all markets in the city.

Simon Édouard Ekotto Ndemba, Director of Environment, Health, and Living Conditions at the Douala Urban Municipality, explains the criteria that guided the selection of the pilot markets, the innovations introduced, the mechanisms put in place to oversee the project, and the decisive support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners.

Within the framework of the "Healthy Food Market" project, how are traders organizing themselves to ensure hygiene and sanitation?
In our public markets, traders organize themselves through their associations to carry out daily cleaning. Every evening, they sweep inside the market and gather waste in a designated area. The company responsible for collection then picks it up and cleans the surroundings of the market, with waste removal carried out every two days. With the project, we also addressed a practice that posed a real problem: selling food directly on the ground. At New Deido market, some traders still displayed their products on dirty sacks placed on the floor. Thanks to awareness sessions, this practice has disappeared. Today, traders use at least small tables to present food. Our ambition is to standardize this approach and extend it to all other markets in the city.

What innovations has the "Healthy Food Market" project introduced in the pilot markets?
The main innovation is the systematic integration of hygiene and sanitation aspects into the daily management of markets. Meetings are no longer only about revenue generation but now also include hygiene, sanitation and food safety. The project has strengthened compliance with hygiene standards, particularly for food products, and introduced appropriate facilities for specific areas such as slaughtering and poultry. We also ensure proper maintenance of restrooms, permanent availability of water points and electrification of markets to guarantee a safer environment.

What criteria were used to select these two markets?
Selection was based on several key elements. First, the market had to clearly belong to the State or the municipality. Size, surface area and a precise definition of the perimeter were also decisive. Accessibility was another factor, requiring that these markets be served by roads for users and other stakeholders. Governance structures played a crucial role, including the presence of a manager, a traders' association led by an elected representative, and, in some cases, mediation committees such as at New Deido market. The variety of food products available-fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, poultry and meat-was another important factor. Finally, the mayor's commitment to governance, hygiene, and sanitation was a determining factor, especially for activities related to cleaning and regular market maintenance.

How is WHO's support helping to strengthen food safety within the "Healthy Food Market" project?
The World Health Organization has played an essential role in this project. It supports the city in better structuring its approach to hygiene, sanitation and food safety in public markets. This support has also facilitated the mobilization of partners, particularly socially responsible companies. Thanks to this joint effort, the Douala Autonomous Port equipped the pilot markets with trash bins, hygiene and sanitation equipment and personal protective gear such as boots, helmets and vests, enabling traders and cleaning teams to work under better conditions. The equipment provided was substantial, allowing us to extend benefits to about twenty other markets not included in the pilot phase.