Misaje Subdivision: Unite for Health Foundation stages groundbreaking health campaign.

The women were during the campaign also offered free antenatal consultations as well as echography tests for pregnant women. 

It was the first time such a health campaign was being staged in the area.

 It was organised in prelude to the celebration of the 39th edition of the International Women’s Day, commemorated on March 8.

Speaking to The Guardian Post shortly after the campaign, the Country Manager of Unite for Health, Akiumbeni Willy, said the initiative was organised as part of activities to commemorate this year's International Women’s Day.

He said the campaign focused on critical issues of maternal and child health in Misaje Health District. 

“Over 200 pregnant women, lactating mothers, women and girls, were sensitised on; importance of antenatal care, ⁠safe delivery practices, post-natal care for mothers and newborns, family planning, birth spacing and informed reproductive choices,” Akiumbeni said. 

He continued that: “In addition, ANC screening, including abdominal ultrasound, was conducted on pregnant women, and the distribution of mama kits and hygiene kits to over 200 women and girls”.

“This was a unique program being the first to cover for abdominal ultrasound to all the pregnant women screened. With the provision of the mama and hygiene kits, and over 75% of having an abdominal ultrasound for the first time, these women expressed great satisfaction with the comprehensive package,” he added.

Enter hospital director

Taking the cue during last week’s campaign, the Director of the Misaje District Hospital, Dr Sombong Emile, thanked the benefactors of the campaign for the choice of Misaje.

He said the people of the area, especially pregnant women, were more than grateful for the largesse.

“We want to thank Unite for Health Foundation for this special opportunity given to the population of Misaje, especially pregnant women. We have been suffering a lot; given that most of our population are not able to afford most of the services that were offered here today for free,” Dr Sombong said.

He further disclosed that: “These women have benefitted from free antenatal consultation and care, free echography, health talks, mama kits and post-delivery kits”.

“I think this is a-one of its kind gesture. For my six years here, I have never seen a campaign like this. Unite for Health Foundation has taken care of the bills of the women completely. We are hoping that this is the start of a good collaboration between us and Unite for Health Foundation. We pray that as they have started, they wouldn’t stop here but move to other sectors,” the medic added.

“…we are a new District Hospital. We are still lacking in so many domains. We need a lot of equipment here. We also need a lot of personnel and we need infrastructure,” the hospital director continued.

For her part, one of the beneficiaries of last week’s health campaign, Ngong Beckline, was all joy.

She thanked the founders of Unite for Health Foundation for the kind gesture offered them before promising to spread the knowledge acquired during the campaign.

“On behalf of all lactating and breastfeeding mothers, I want to appreciate the founders of this organisation. We have received a lot of gifts...these gifts are going to help us,” she said.

Meanwhile, Unite for Health Foundation, it should be said, is a nonprofit healthcare organisation with key mission to help pregnant women, mothers and young children in rural, underserved communities in Cameroon. 

The organisation has been reaching out in innovative ways to bring vital treatment, screenings and health education to the people who need it most.