Populations of the East region will henceforth receive a wide range of quality health care services from the Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre.

The health facility was inaugurated on 10th June 2024 by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, personal representative of the Head of State.

“This magnificent structure which catches our attention, is government’s implementation of the strategic vision to improve the living conditions of Cameroonians. It focuses on human capital which is capable of improving economic growth,” the Prime Minister said.

Thousands of residents of the East regional capital, a host of government members, and other top ranking personalities turned out massively to witness the inauguration of the architectural jewel.

Among them was the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, and elite of the region, Joseph Le who said he was elated to see such a masterpiece of a health facility constructed in the East regional capital, Bertoua.

“What an architectural jewel; what modernity in terms of accessibility and quality. Who would have believed this five years ago?” Minister LE marvelled.

Over 700 Consultations in Seven Weeks

The Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre opened its doors to patients on 19th April 2024, with a total of 700 consultations on record.

The first services to go operational were the emergency, laboratory and imaging services. All other services are now available and offer high quality health care services to patients.

Admissions, surgery, emergencies and maternity care are among services in high demand. Almost two months after the health facility opened, close to 800 laboratory tests have been carried out, with 235 of them in medical imaging.

The Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre already has a functional blood bank which was constituted thanks to a blood donation campaign carried out by internal staff of the hospital.

The health facility counts about 250 staff, including 90 civil servants, 16 medical doctors, 7 specialists including a surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, pulmonologist, a rheumatologist, an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, a doctor specialized in medical imaging and 9 general practitioners.

Paramedical personnel constitute 116 professionals including 06 specialized senior nurses, 60 State Registered Nurses, 76 Nursing Assistants, 26 laboratory technicians, 5 engineers and medical imaging technicians, 4 mortuary attendants, 4 civil engineering personnel and 30 maintenance workers.

The architectural jewel is seated on a five-hectare piece of land, with about 12,000 metres squaredfully occupied. It contains 12 buildings comprising 102 beds, 90 conventional wards, and 12 beds at the intensive care unit.

The Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre is a second-degree hospital, and the 4th Hospital Centre to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, after that of Bafoussam, Ebolowa and Garoua.

A facility of this scale, with multiple departments and a high patient turnover, requires not only medical expertise but also meticulous attention to infrastructure safety.

Hospitals operate around the clock, with complex electrical systems, oxygen supplies, and sterilization units that can pose fire risks if not properly monitored.

Ensuring that every wing, from the emergency department to the intensive care unit, remains safeguarded against potential hazards is vital to protecting both patients and staff while sustaining uninterrupted medical care.

In environments where even minor safety lapses can have significant consequences, the presence of Fire Watch Guards plays a crucial role in maintaining constant vigilance. Their expertise in identifying and addressing potential fire hazards, conducting safety patrols, and ensuring that fire safety systems function properly provides peace of mind to hospital administrators and healthcare workers alike.

Beyond compliance, their watchful presence ensures that emergency response protocols are clear and actionable, reducing the likelihood of disruption in sensitive areas such as surgical theaters or laboratories.

By integrating such preventative measures into daily operations, health institutions like Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre reinforce their commitment to comprehensive safety, balancing advanced medical care with the essential security that keeps it all running smoothly.

Kathy Neba Sina

 

Three months after the Yaoundé declaration was signed, members of Malaria Media Taskforce have discussed the follow up of its implementation.

The Yaoundé declaration sanctioned the Malaria Minister’s forum which held in Yaoundé on 6th March 2024, grouping ministers from 11 High Burden High Impact countries.

Members of the Malaria Tafk Force held the quarterly meeting in Yaoundé on 6th June to work on a plan that will facilitate the follow up of the implementation of the Yaoundé Declaration.

The meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Health, the National Malaria Control Programme ( NMCP) and Impact Santé Afrique. Among participants were representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Communication and officials from the National Malaria Control Programme.

As Africa steps up efforts to beat the disease, these journalists will join the roll-back-Malaria train via an improvement in Malaria reporting.

In order to effectively follow up the declaration, the journalists had a keen look at the content of the document. They all agreed that effective follow up of the declaration begins with its mastery.

Prospects for the days ahead 

Apart from charting a course for the follow up of the Yaoundé Declaration, the journalists discussed innovative ways of reporting on malaria.

They also came up with a list of activities and projects to be carried out during the next quarter of the year.

One of the key issues to be examined is the implementation of a multidisciplinary framework for the fight against Malaria in Cameroon. The framework will be launched in the days ahead.

Valuable lessons

Coming from a wide range of media outlets, many of the journalists who attended the quarterly meeting said it was an enriching experience that will change their approach to Malaria reporting.

“Today’s meeting has given me many ideas on how to improve my Malaria reporting skills. I have also become aware of how to question the work of health experts, especially the authorities of the Ministry of Public Health to know how far they have gone with the implementation of health projects,” Rostand Tchami , Editor-in-chief of Santé Nature Plus said.

“The meeting is a big advantage for journalists because it equips us with the right vocabulary used in writing stories, and mastery of the various important dates. It also brings us in contact with key stakeholders so that we can be able to access information easily,” Oscar Abessolo told CRTV Web.

“This was an opportunity to evaluate the contribution of journalists to the fight against malaria. We also had to look at what we can do to reduce the burden of the disease in our various communities,” Nadege Christelle Bowa,” journalist for Le Messager said.

The task force will meet again in three months to evaluate activities carried out during the previous quarter of the year, and their contribution to the fight against the disease.

Kathy Neba Sina