BY NDEFRU MELANIE IN BAMENDA
Public health minister during his working visit to the Northwest region, was presented with a few preoccupations from the Bamenda Regional hospital director; personnel shortage, unstable energy – requesting for generator, the construction of a modern emergency unit, amongst others.
Dr Denis Nsame expressed gratitude on behalf of hospital management and staff, the efforts of the Minister in upgrading hospitals in Cameroon to acceptable standards especially in the areas of infrastructure, equipment, personnel and finance.
Minister Manaouda Malachie came to the Northwest to inaugurate the C.T Scan machine at the Regional Hospital Bamenda.
This was after the imaging Centre of the Bamenda Regional Hospital was presented to the Minister Manaouda Malachie, minister of Public health, which went functional in November 2014 and was officially inaugurated on April 21, 2015 by the then Minister of Public Health H.E Andre Mama Fouda.
According to Dr. Denis Nsame, the machines at the imaging Centre had been working well until 2020/2021 when these equipment started experiencing numerous break downs.
In 2022, over 211 CT Scans have been done from January 16 to February 24. The imaging center has 13 staff; 3 radiologists, 4 radiology technicians, 1 sonographer, 1 nurse, 2 secretaries, 1 house keeper and 1 cashier.
Manaouda Malachie, Public Health Minister promised to give bonuses to health practitioners who’ve worked in the era of a dual crisis; armed conflict and COVID- -19. He expressed delight at how much medics in the Northwest region carried out their duties with diligence despite the challenging times.
“My coming to the Northwest region has 3 objectives; to transmit the message of the Head of State to staff who have worked in difficult conditions, in a difficult environment but haven’t given up. The Head of State congratulates them very warmly. My second objective is to see the regional technical team of our health care; after inaugurating the CT Scan, Haemodylisis centre and other infrastructure. Thirdly I am the son of a Pastor and I came with Peace. I pray that this peace remains amongst the people of the Northwest region” Dr Manaouda Malachie, Public Health Minister.
Created in 1956, the Bamenda Regional hospital is the reference Hospital in the Northwest region; with a capacity of over 400 beds with a pool of 511 staff out of which 145 are state employed, 278 community employed and 88 partner staff.