Received on August 10, 2026, by the Minister of Public Health, MANAOUDA Malachie, the Head of Mission of the IOM in Cameroon, Mr. Abdel Rahmane DIOP, advocated for better integration of human mobility into health policies. On the agenda: health surveillance at borders, adaptation to climate change, and mobilization of the diaspora. Objective: to build a more inclusive health system in the face of population movements.
Public health is adapting to mobility. This was the purpose of the meeting granted on August 10, 2026, at the Ministry of Health by MANAOUDA Malachie to Mr. Abdel Rahmane DIOP, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Cameroon.
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At the heart of the discussions: strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health and the IOM to better address issues related to population movements in health planning.
Both parties have identified concrete projects for the coming months.
First, health surveillance. This involves strengthening the capacity to respond to epidemics and improving health security at borders, in a context marked by significant migratory flows in the sub-region.
Next, the issue of climate change. Migrations caused by droughts, floods, and food insecurity create new health challenges. The Ministry of Health and the IOM intend to better anticipate these impacts to avoid disruptions in access to care.
Finally, mobilizing the expertise of the diaspora. Cameroon has a significant community of health professionals abroad. The idea is to create conditions to “boost our health system” by relying on their technical and scientific skills.
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For the Minister of Public Health, this dynamic is part of the desire to make the health system “more resilient and more inclusive.” Integrating the mobility dimension becomes essential to protect the most vulnerable populations, especially in border areas and displaced persons sites.
For its part, the IOM reaffirms its availability to support Cameroon in implementing these axes, through technical support, data sharing, and coordination with other partners.
By combining health, migration, and climate, Yaoundé and the IOM lay the foundations for cooperation focused on anticipation. An approach deemed necessary to face the health crises of tomorrow.
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