Cameroon, with its population of 26.55 million (2020), is a
relatively stable state, albeit one with limited scope for
personal freedom, with power remaining vested in its president.
Life expectancy for a child in Cameroon is just 59.29 years (2019), not
helped by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Of the 9,142,000 child
population in Cameroon, a staggering 300,000 have been orphaned by
AIDS and a further 45,000 are infected themselves. Many
of these orphaned children, along with others who escape poverty
or family breakdown, end up on the streets living through vending,
begging or stealing. More than 40% of the Cameroonian population lives below the poverty line with rural areas much more affected than urban areas and 73% of children aged five and under live below the with multidimensional poverty line with 25% of them being affected by extreme poverty.
52,000 children in Cameroon die each year from
malnutrition alone. Sanitation is also a major area of concern with 75% of schools in some areas
having no toilets or washing facilities; overall in Cameroon 86% of urban
dwellers have access to safe water dropping to 44% in rural communities. This lack of water is cited as a primary reason why
many girls in Cameroon fail to attend education ~ in general
attitudes towards girls in Cameroon are that they are better
suited to domestic chores in any event. Even water supplies in
cities such as the capital Yaounde pump out dirty, often
contaminated water. As such, water related sicknesses amongst children
in Cameroon are high. Despite an overall decline in poverty over the last ten years, in
many areas of the country poverty has worsened with over half of
these households being home to children under fifteen years of
age. There are also tens of thousands of child refugees in the
country.
Like many other countries in Africa, there are child sponsor
programs in Cameroon, given the serious issues with children
living in poverty without clean water, decent sanitation or
education. Child sponsor programs in Cameroon focus on working with AIDS orphans, access
to health care and education and working with communities to develop a
sustainable livelihoods. You can help when you sponsor a
child in Cameroon.
Child Sponsor Cameroon: SOS Children's Villages
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Child Sponsor Cameroon: Okala Foundation
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Child Sponsor Cameroon: Good Shepherd Home
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Child Sponsor Cameroon: United Action for Children
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Child Sponsor Cameroon: Cameroon Children
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Child Sponsor Cameroon: Volunteer in Cameroon
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