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Catégorie : Santé

  • Neurology : Epilepsy treatment among priorities of first congress

     

    The  first Scientific Congress of the Cameroon Academy of Neurosurgeons opened in Yaounde on 2nd May on the theme “Functional and congenital pathologies”. 

    Organizers of the congress say the maiden edition is dedicated to fine-tuning and promo medical advancements in epilepsy treatment. Congenital malformations of the nervous system in children and vascular neurosurgery were also discussed at the two-day congress. 

    “Epilepsy is a very common disease in Africa, but the question we are asking ourselves is why surgery, the most effective treatment of the disease, is not widely used in Africa. This is one of the issues we will discuss during the Congress” Pr Vincent de Paul DJIENTCHEU, President of the Cameroonian Academy of Neurosurgeons said . 

    The prevalence of Epilepsy in Cameroon varies between 0.5 to 13.5% per thousand people according to the Cameroonian Academy of Neurosurgeons. In Africa, the doctor patient ratio is 1 neurosurgeon per 2.5million people.  

    Improving this frail ratio is one of the most important issues the neurosurgeons from Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Mali taking part in the Congress are working on. 

    The maiden Congress of the Cameroonian Academy of Neurosurgeons was officially opened by the Inspector General of Administrative Services at the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Boukar Oumaté, Representative of the Minister of Public Health.

    “The organization of this conference is of necessity as the Academy of Neurosurgeons has become a partner of the government to improve the quality of health care in the country,” the Inspector General said during the opening ceremony. 

    In search of Neurosurgeons

    The number of neurosurgeons in Cameroon has considerably increased, and also enriched with the return of colleagues from other African and European schools of Neurosurgery. 

    However, Neurosurgery is reportedly one of the health specialties seriously lacking in human resources. 

    To improve the Neurosurgeon versus patient ration, the Congress has launched a competition to select five best presentations on neurosurgery during the two day event. 

    “We want to use the competition to attract young people to become neurosurgeons. We will have a Congress in Kinshasa in November. We have organized a competition during this congress to select five youths with the best presentations who will travel to  Kinshasa to participate in the Congress in November,” Prof. Aderehime Haidara, Neurosurgeon from Côte d’Ivoire said. 

    Epilepsy patients in Cameroon can be treated at the cost of between 30,000-40,000 monthly. Patients who become drug resistant can be treated by surgical procedures which experts estimate could cost a little below 1million FCFA. The neurosurgeons are using the congress to raise awareness about the use of surgical procedures to offer life-long treatment for the medical condition. 


    Kathy Neba Sina

  • Disability Inclusion: Persons with intellectual disabilities acquire knowledge on political participation

    Junior Lango, a person with intellectual disability has just been equipped with knowledge on his rights to participate in decision-making as an active citizen of Cameroon.

    He is among 30 persons with intellectual disabilities and representatives of support groups who took part in a three-day training on the political participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Yaoundé.

    The training was jointly organized by Sight Savers International and Inclusion International from April 15-17, 2024.

    “I have learnt a lot about my personality. Thanks to this training, I have learnt about my rights as a citizen and my rights as a person with disabilities. One of my rights is to be loved and feel accepted in the society.”

    Participants of the workshop including self advocates, associations of persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Social Affairs and some rights groups discussed practical solutions to the inclusion of this special group of people in the political life of the country.

    The right to participate in political activities and public life is a fundamental human rights law. However,  persons with intellectual disabilities are usually left behind.

    The three-day workshop was held within the framework of citizenship and political involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities.

    “These are issues that concern everyone living in a country.This training brings a solution because people with intellectual disabilities are usually left out of important political decisions. Human rights requires we leave no one aside,” Marguerite Belobo Belili, Executive Director of Sightsavers Cameroon said.

    During the training,  persons with intellectual disabilities were schooled on the importance of being knowledgeable in political issues. They were also told that knowing their right to participate in politics and public life is well-established in human rights law for everyone.

    “We have explained what is a good advocate. Persons with disabilities need a good human companion . We have explained the role this person plays. They help the person with intellectual disability take decisions and not take decisions for them. The bad advocate takes decisions for the person with intellectual disability.”Claudine Lawson Daizo, Executive Director of CHRYSALIDE said.

    To facilitate the political involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities, they are required  to  each have electoral cards, and be able to vote. Ensuring inclusive participation of their families, community and country is also of great importance.

    Organizers called on rights groups, the Ministry of Social Affairs and other stakeholders to ensure the  political rights of persons with intellectual disabilities are respected.

    “This workshop has made us aware that when persons with disabilities understand what is happening around them, they can take meaningful decisions even though we acknowledge it’s usually not easy. They make much efforts to express themselves  so that their rights can be respected,” Onana Bidi Thaddée, PWDs and PHD student of the University of Yaoundé 1 said.

    Lack of a skilled facilitator, low efficiency, disinterest in political issues, and language barrier are some of the challenges to political participation of persons with intellectual disabilities. That not withstanding, stakeholders say  the government has all it takes to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to fully participate in all decision-making processes.