Dr. Betty Best and her young “health soldiers” took to the streets of Melen Market in Yaoundé to raise awareness among traders about the dangers of exposing food on the ground.
Good health depends on clean air, a stable climate, a preserved natural environment, as well as access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene. Â A healthy environment could prevent nearly a quarter of the global disease burden, health experts say.
Faced with the dangers and hygiene problems in informal market places, the promoter of the Bilingual Academy of Health Sciences (ABSSA), Dr. Betty Best, organized a community awareness campaign in Yaounde on August 10, 2025.
 Health science students were deployed to the Melen market, in the Yaoundé 6th district, to educate vendors on best practices for selling and preserving food.
It was an unusual scene that captured the attention of everyone at the Melen market in Yaoundé last weekend. Far from the usual noisy hustling and bustling by customers, a group of students in white attire, all students of the Bilingual Academy of Health Sciences, led an awareness campaign among vendors on best practices for selling and preserving food.
Their goal was to combat the unfortunately all-too-common practice of displaying food directly on the ground, a source of health hazards to the population.
Led by their promoter, Dr. Betty Best, these young “health soldiers” took to the market aisles. The idea was born from a bitter observation: hygiene is often relegated to the background in Cameroonian markets.
 Fruits, vegetables, dried fish, tubers… a wide range of fresh and dried products are regularly displayed on the floor, a practice that promotes the proliferation of microbes and diseases.
Dr. Betty Best decided not to stand indifferent in the face of this situation. She mobilized her students, transforming them into ambassadors of cleanliness and public health. Their mission? To approach traders courteously and educate them about the risks associated with unsanitary conditions.
Far from being a mere formality, this campaign was conducted with seriousness and an educational approach. Dr. Betty Best Mesame Mwene promoter of ABSSA, says she was motivated to carry out this activity after observing the unsanitary conditions of the market.
“I noticed that everything was displayed on the ground there: meat, fish, vegetables. That’s why we wanted to carry out this awareness-raising campaign,” she explained.
 This campaign is part of a three-year awareness-raising program,that is already yielding fruit.
 “At first, it was difficult, but today, many vendors have put up their counters thanks to the support of the Melen 7 neighborhood chief, who keeps a close eye on everything and ensures that hygiene rules are respected,” she added.
Beyond sanitary conditions, street vendors, mainly women, are exposed to multiple dangers. KEMGOU Yannick, a student at ABSSA said.
 The awareness-raising session focused on the public health problems associated with street selling.
 NWERE FWITA Cheche, also from ABSSA, emphasized the risks of disease and infection, particularly in a city like Yaoundé where access to water is sometimes difficult.
 “When you leave your products on the ground, it can cause a lot of illness. By displaying it on a clean counter, you protect yourself and all Cameroonians,” he said.
The public’s response was very positive. Although some vendors expressed frustration at the lack of solutions from the city council, many promised to improve their practices. “They cooperated with us, we feel that things will improve further,” concluded Yannick Kemgou, very satisfied with the vendors’ commitment to implementing the advice provided.
Information in the field revealed a range of reactions. A cohort of three female students approached a vegetable vendor, their immaculate blouses contrasting with the dirt floor. After a polite greeting, one of them, in a calm voice, began the discussion. “Sir, we are here to talk to you about the importance of hygiene.” Placing your products on the floor can be dangerous for your customers’ health.”
The responses were varied. Some merchants, visibly reluctant and suspicious, dismissed the students’ advice, arguing that it was a tradition or that a lack of resources prevented them from improving their situation. “We’ve always done it this way. And do you think we have the money to buy tables and gloves?” asked a somewhat annoyed salesperson.
However, the students’ perseverance and respectful tone paid off. Other merchants welcomed the initiative enthusiastically.
A seller of varied spices listened attentively to the explanations on the need to use hydroalcoholic gels, hand sanitizers, and gloves when handling products.
“It’s true, you’re right,” she acknowledged with a smile. “I’d never really thought about it, but it’s important. I’m going to try to equip myself.”
 Over 100 students thronged the market, armed not with pamphlets, but with words and practical demonstrations. Their efforts highlighted the urgent need for awareness and the positive impact such actions can have on changing mindsets.
This day at the Melen market was much more than a simple information campaign. It was proof that civic engagement and the will to act can transform entrenched habits.
 Although the road is still long, the seed of hygiene and public health has been sown, thanks to the determination of Dr. Betty Best and her students
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(Culled in FRENCH from Echos Sante and translated by ECO OUTLOOK)