In the Congo Basin forests lurk invisible agents that spare neither humans nor wildlife. While some are benign, others are virulent killers - ebola for instance.
Diseases are wiping out not only threatened species but also the very people who are trying to save them. WWF gets to the heart of the problem.
With the support of Johnson & Johnson, a global manufacturer of healthcare products, WWF is focusing on several areas:
Using hunting revenues to support health care reinforces the value of sound wildlife management. In Lake Lobéké National Park, Cameroon, health scouts have been selected to cooperate with village committees responsible for managing the revenues from wildlife hunting.
These funds are allocated to local communities. Health scouts have been provided with basic medical training and information linking health issues, family planning, and sustainable use of natural resources.
Further to the east, in Dzanga-Sangha Dense Forest Special Reserve, health scouts provide health care services and organize regular community information sessions on issues such as family planning, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene.
WWF also provided support to the Bayanga Maternity and Health Care Clinic. A logging operation based in Dzanga-Sangha has become an economic pole of attraction for immigrant workers and their families, resulting in the rapid growth of Bayanga, the town adjacent to Dzanga-Sangha.
Diseases are wiping out not only threatened species but also the very people who are trying to save them. WWF gets to the heart of the problem.
With the support of Johnson & Johnson, a global manufacturer of healthcare products, WWF is focusing on several areas:
- Training health scouts to provide basic community health care and organize conservation awareness campaigns.
- Supporting communities of BaAka and Bayaka forest people who play a central role in protecting their forests.
- Addressing unsustainable population growth and HIV/AIDS through family planning initiatives.
Training and operation of community health scouts
Using hunting revenues to support health care reinforces the value of sound wildlife management. In Lake Lobéké National Park, Cameroon, health scouts have been selected to cooperate with village committees responsible for managing the revenues from wildlife hunting. These funds are allocated to local communities. Health scouts have been provided with basic medical training and information linking health issues, family planning, and sustainable use of natural resources.
Further to the east, in Dzanga-Sangha Dense Forest Special Reserve, health scouts provide health care services and organize regular community information sessions on issues such as family planning, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene.
Support for health-care infrastructure
In Lobéké, WWF has also supported the construction of health-care huts with basic medical equipment while in Dzanga-Sangha, a small clinic has been erected and additional health posts have been established.WWF also provided support to the Bayanga Maternity and Health Care Clinic. A logging operation based in Dzanga-Sangha has become an economic pole of attraction for immigrant workers and their families, resulting in the rapid growth of Bayanga, the town adjacent to Dzanga-Sangha.
