Orange Foundation inaugurates, hands 55 MFCFA-worth hospital to gov’t.

The facility has been constructed by the company to carter for the health needs of the resettled survivors of the Gouache landslide in Bafoussam.

The state-of-the-art health facility, constructed alongside a borehole to the tune of 55 million FCFA, was inaugurated and handed over to government Friday May 12.

The modern health facility was inaugurated by the Director General of Orange Cameroun, Patrick Benon. He also doubles as the Board Chairman of Orange Cameroun Foundation. The governor of the West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, represented the state at the inaugural ceremony. 

Also present at the ceremony was the West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr Chimoun Daouda and traditional rulers of the Region. 

Orange Cameroun, had through its Foundation, taken the commitment to construct the health facility to help survivors of the Gouache landslide as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. 

Speaking during the ceremony, Orange Cameroun DG, Patrick Benon, said the construction of the hospital demonstrates the company’s commitment to accompany government in achieving sustainable development in health and well-being for all through quality education, clean water and sanitation, reduced inequalities, gender equality among others. 

“This health centre is a good example of a public-private partnership,” he said, while recalling that “when the Gouache disaster happened in October 2019, we approached the Governor to find out how we could help and the Governor told us that we had to orient ourselves towards a medical centre to rescue the victims and the population”.

“So, we worked with all the teams on the ground and in synergy with the public authorities, to build this health centre which cost more than 50 million. We are very happy today to see that the centre is already functional,” Benon said. On the day of the inauguration, over 50 consultations were done at the health centre.

The consultations, Benon noted, “shows that there was really need” for the facility in the area. 

Aside inaugurating the constructed and equipped health facility, officials of Orange Cameroun Foundation also donated significant medical equipment and materials to officials of the health facility. 

The hospital will offer in the first phase, primary healthcare including maternal and child protection, vaccinations and management of infectious diseases and management of endemic diseases like malaria, awareness campaigns, etc. 

Equipment donated to Bameka Integrated Health Centre

The Orange Cameroun delegation also used the health caravan to the West Region to hand over equipment and material to the Bameka Integrated Health Centre as part of efforts to help curb maternal mortality rate. 

The donation was in respond to the request of the hospital for its maternity unit to be reinforced. It donated specialised equipment, including haematology equipment, delivery box, episiotomy box, cradles, solar incubator, Doppler, hospital beds and mattresses among others. 

Through the donation, estimated at about 6.5 million FCFA, the Orange Foundation intends to contribute to the preservation of human life in the community of Bameka.

Statistics indicate that despite a decrease in maternal mortality in Cameroon, nearly 4,000 women die each year while giving birth. It is on this that actions of Orange Foundation prioritises health of mothers and children aged 0 to 5 years.

Governor Awa Fonka says facility timely 

The Governor of the West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, hailed the telecom company for the gesture, which he said is very timely for the population. 

“On behalf of these survivors and the population of Bamengou, I can only express our gratitude for what they have done,” the Governor said.

The Governor lauded the officials of the company for always being there to assist the population each time need arises. 

“…we see Orange Cameroun as a citizen company that is always there to help people in need. We encourage them with everything they are doing,” Awa Fonka said. 

Head of health facility hails Orange Cameroun

The Head of the Integrated Health Centre, Metafit Jeannette, lauded officials of Orange Cameroun for the timely gesture to better healthcare delivery to the population. 

“I say thank you to Orange Cameroun. I am the first staff to be deployed to this structure especially since it is a structure that we have just created,” she said. 

She expressed optimism that with the assistance of Orange Cameroun, they would do their utmost to deliver healthcare to the population especially with the outbreak of Cholera.

“I think the population of Gouache will not be exposed too much to Cholera because there is already a health centre near them. We can avoid illnesses that undermine the community,” Metafit Jeannette said. 

Beneficiaries express gratitude to Orange Cameroun 

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary population, the President of the Gouache landslide survivors, Tati Couchale, expressed gratitude to the Orange Cameroun for bringing renewed hope to them and making them feel they have not be abandoned. 

“This is a very good initiative. It boosts our morale, and we understand that they have not given up on us…,” he said, noting that the gesture from Orange Cameroun has uplifted them by 50%.

“Many thanks once again, we will no longer need to cross miles to go to the hospital. It’s a few steps from our house,” Tati said. 

Donates equipment to fight infant mortality

Orange Foundation has also donated equipment at the Kiki District Health Centre in the Centre Region of the country as part of efforts to fight infant mortality. 

According to the Demographic and Health Survey, approximately 22,000 newborns die each year in Cameroon (28 deaths per 1,000 live births).

In its fight against infant mortality, the Orange Foundation carries out sponsorship actions aimed at improving neonatal care in health facilities.

After a first donation in 2018, the Orange Foundation returned to the Kiki District Health Centre to make a new donation of specialised equipment to the tune of six million FCFA. 

It is aimed at strengthening the neonatology department of this health facility. The equipment consists mainly of a solar incubator and an oxygen extractor, and a radiant table.

Flashback to Orange Cameroun support to health 

Orange Cameroon, has through its Foundation created in 2009, invested nearly CFAF 900 million to support the health system in Cameroon. 

This has been through its ambition to commensurate with the multiple challenges facing the country through its commitment to transform the health sector through digital technology. 

Its health policy targets three priority areas: maternal and child health, disability health, and innovation through the introduction of digital technology. 

It has strengthened maternity units in health centres and district hospitals nationwide. The same company has upgraded the health offer of maternity units, fully renovated and/or equipped hospitals as well as entirely renovated and equipped hospitals in rural areas, provided boreholes to address water crisis among others.

The company has also come to the aid of persons living with disabilities especially those suffering from autism, blindness and deafness as well as accompanying these people towards successful social integration.

Orange Foundation has also developed a digital programme for the visually impaired, supported many projects, raised awareness among the general public, training parents, educators and other care personnel, and providing them with the appropriate care methods and equipment.

It has also offered a chance for socio-professional reintegration, financed the equipment of the ESAT workshops, assisted the Buea School of the Deaf, Ophthalmological units of Kumba District Hospital, the Saint-Luc hospital in Mbalmayo and through Orange Digital Center provided health start-ups, the process of improving medical care is facilitated.