Cameroon's Public Health Minister inaugurates CT Scan machine donated to Bamenda Regional Hospital

At the ceremony which took place at the esplanade of the hospital, the Director Dr. Denis Nsame in presenting the Imaging Centre, highlighted that the new CT scan, will greatly impact the quality of healthcare services provided to the population. "Since its creation in 2014 and official inauguration in April 2015, this Centre has been functioning well until last two years that the machine broke down. In 2018,  718 scans were done, in 2019, 566 CT scans were carried out, in 2020, when the break down of the machine became acute, only 31 scans were done and in 2021, no CT Scan was done. And just within two months in 2022 that the new machine was acquired,  211 scans have been carried out already with the brand new upgraded 16 slice siemens machine."

Presenting the hospital in figures and content, Dr Denis Nsame expressed gratitude on behalf of the hospital's management and staff, praised the efforts of the Minister in upgrading hospitals in Cameroon to acceptable standards especially in the areas of Infrastructure, equipment, personel and finance. Director Nsame also presented the hospital's preoccupations, which included personnel shortage, unstable energy requesting for a standby generator for the Imaging Centre, the construction of a mordern emergency unit amongst others.

Minister Manaouda in his remark, saluted efforts put in place by the health family in the North West Region through its Regional Delegate Dr. Che Soh, to continuously provide quality health care to the population despite the dual crisis plaguing the Region. He further saluted efforts made by the hospital administration in the proper functioning of the hospital despite the numerous challenges mentioned by the Director. Pledging to meet the demands of the hospital, Public Health Minister admitted that he recognizes the efforts put in by medics in the era of the Covid 19 pandemic, saying they deserve bonuses to encourge them in the work they do. He further stated, "My coming to the North West Region has first to to do with transmitting the message of the Head of State to staff who have worked in difficult conditions, in a difficult environment yet haven't given up. The Head of State congratulates them very warmly". In a bid to upgrade the Hospital staff strength, Minister Manaouda pledged to employ and integrate all voluntary and support staff of the hospital.

Minister Manaouda equally bore a special message to the population of North West Region, calling on all  North Westerners to be messengers of peace in their different communities, for a better North West Region in particular and a better Cameroon at large. Minister Manaouda Malachie also made rounds to the Hemodialysis Centre where 08 brand new recently donated dialysis machines were presented to the August guest and his entourage.

The delegation then continued to  the renovated and upgraded Intensive Care Unit of the Regional Hospital with oxygen piping and a bed increase from 06 to 10 donated by WHO, then to the newly constructed VIP 25-Bed modern medicalised isolation centre of the hospital. The Minister and his team equally had a brief stop at the North West Regional Delegation of Public Health.

It is important to note that the CT Scan went operational on January 15th, 2022 and up to February 24th, over 211 CT Scans have been done. The Imaging Centre has 13 staff; 3 radiologists, 4 radiology technicians, 1 sonographer, 1 nurse, 2 secretaries, 1 house keeper and 1 cashier.

The inauguration event was heavily attended with people from all corners of the  North West Region. Accompanying the Minister were; the Governor of the NW and his Etat Major, dignitaries such as the Public Independent Conciliator, President of the Regional Assembly,  Senior Healthcare Executives led by the Regional Delegate Public Health Dr. Che Soh Kingsley, Director of the Regional Hospital and his administrators, as well as other top administrative authorities.