An overview of ICAN Central Hub Activities, Challenges, Opportunities, and Success Stories, during their 3 years of operation
Tracks
Meeting Room 1.63 - 1.64
| Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
Overview
Speaker: Mrs Mfiekwe Eveline Ngwayi
Speaker
Mrs Eveline Ngwayi Mfiekwe
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
An overview of ICAN Central Hub Activities, Challenges, Opportunities, and Success Stories, during their 3 years of operation.
Abstract
Introduction:
The ICAN Central Hub covers 9 Central African countries with a population of over 158 million. It has played a critical role in advancing IPC/WASH, and addressing antimicrobial resistance. This abstract summarizes the Hub’s activities over the period of 3 years.
Activities:
• Training of healthcare professionals and technical staff.
• Facilitating multisectoral stakeholder forums to foster collaboration.
• Awareness campaigns to promote WASH and AMR awareness.
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness IPC measures.
Challenges:
The hub faced various challenges:
Insufficient funding to expand the scope of activities.
Uneven stakeholder engagement and commitment.
Cultural and logistical barriers.
Poor internet connectivity.
Opportunities:
Several opportunities emerged including
• Enhanced partnerships with regional and international organizations.
• Growing interest in IPC strategies at the policy level within government agencies as we work with the ministry of health.
• Increased availability of digital tools for remote training and real-time data monitoring.
Recommendations:
To overcome challenges the following steps are recommended:
Seek diversified funding sources for sustainability.
Foster stronger inter-hub collaboration to share the best practices and resources.
Prioritize culturally adapted community engagement strategies.
Scale up the use of technology for monitoring and training.
Work with the Ministry of health and other stakeholders for better implementation of IPC strategies.
Success Stories:
1. Empowering Healthcare Workers
2. Fostering Partnerships:
3. Innovative Awareness Campaign:
Conclusion:
The ICAN Central Regional Hub continues to demonstrate leadership and commitment to improving IPC practices and health outcomes within the region.
The ICAN Central Hub covers 9 Central African countries with a population of over 158 million. It has played a critical role in advancing IPC/WASH, and addressing antimicrobial resistance. This abstract summarizes the Hub’s activities over the period of 3 years.
Activities:
• Training of healthcare professionals and technical staff.
• Facilitating multisectoral stakeholder forums to foster collaboration.
• Awareness campaigns to promote WASH and AMR awareness.
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness IPC measures.
Challenges:
The hub faced various challenges:
Insufficient funding to expand the scope of activities.
Uneven stakeholder engagement and commitment.
Cultural and logistical barriers.
Poor internet connectivity.
Opportunities:
Several opportunities emerged including
• Enhanced partnerships with regional and international organizations.
• Growing interest in IPC strategies at the policy level within government agencies as we work with the ministry of health.
• Increased availability of digital tools for remote training and real-time data monitoring.
Recommendations:
To overcome challenges the following steps are recommended:
Seek diversified funding sources for sustainability.
Foster stronger inter-hub collaboration to share the best practices and resources.
Prioritize culturally adapted community engagement strategies.
Scale up the use of technology for monitoring and training.
Work with the Ministry of health and other stakeholders for better implementation of IPC strategies.
Success Stories:
1. Empowering Healthcare Workers
2. Fostering Partnerships:
3. Innovative Awareness Campaign:
Conclusion:
The ICAN Central Regional Hub continues to demonstrate leadership and commitment to improving IPC practices and health outcomes within the region.
Biography
Mfiekwe Eveline Ngwayi is the Supervisor of Nursing Services with the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services at Nkwen Baptist Hospital, Bamenda. She is a holder of a master’s degree in nursing sciences. She has worked as a nurse for 25 years.
She is an IPC trainer for about 10 years now and is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Association (IPCA) Cameroon and as the training coordinator for the Central African Regional Hub.
