A new chapter in Cameroon’s fight against cancer began this February 12, 2026, as Dr. Florence Zeh Kakanou officially took over as the Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Cancer Control (CNLCa). The technical handover ceremony, held in Yaoundé, was presided over by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Health, Prof. Louis Richard Njock.
Upon assuming her role, Dr. Zeh Kakanou made a bold commitment to hit the ground running by developing a strategic 100-day work plan. This plan aims to provide immediate direction for the committee and will be submitted to the Ministry’s hierarchy to ensure alignment with national health priorities.
The mandate handed to the new Permanent Secretary includes an ambitious and dense roadmap focused heavily on proactive prevention and early detection. Prof. Njock emphasized the need for “visible action,” specifically calling for the deployment of mobile mammography and ultrasound units to take screening services directly to the population during health campaigns. This strategy is designed to bridge the gap between rural and urban access to care. Before these deployments, the committee is tasked with conducting a comprehensive situational analysis to identify current failures in the cancer care chain and implement immediate corrective measures.
Beyond prevention, the Ministry has set high standards for clinical management and infrastructure development. Dr. Zeh Kakanou is expected to standardize screening protocols for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers across all national hospitals. Key priorities also include establishing an accreditation system for health facilities and ensuring a seamless supply of essential oncology medications. Furthermore, the roadmap looks toward the future of specialized medicine, with explicit instructions to develop nuclear medicine specialties and work toward the establishment of a domestic particle accelerator center to enhance radiotherapy capabilities.
The Secretary General concluded the ceremony by stressing an “obligation for results,” reminding the new leadership that the CNLCa is a demanding, full-time responsibility. In addition to technical oversight, Dr. Zeh Kakanou is tasked with aggressive resource mobilization to fund the committee’s expanded activities. Following the formal signing of the handover minutes and the inventory of assets, the new Permanent Secretary immediately convened her first coordination meeting. This swift transition signals a sense of urgency in addressing the rising burden of cancer in Cameroon through structured, performance-based governance
