At maiden conference: Young physicians urged to contribute in shaping Cameroon’s health system.

The message was delivered on the occasion of the maiden conference of Cameroon Young Physicians Network in Bamenda on July 13.

The conference which brought together young physicians from all over the country was held under the team: “Raising Young Physician Changemakers”.

Speaking during the conference, one of the founders of the Cameroon Young Physicians Network, Dr Platine Nyuyki, said among other things, the network seeks to encourage medical doctors to seek more preventive measures in their field of work. 

“…we want to evoke the leadership spirit in young physicians and senior medical students, to make them feel more concerned about the problems we have in our health system and equally, to make them understand, they are ones to take charge in leading change in the community and advocate for preventive medicine in their communities,” Dr Nyuyki said. 

He went on to add that: “This is because many people cannot afford treatment for diseases, but there are some diseases, which can be prevented and this will also help reduce mortality rate in our country”.

During the conference, over 50 young physicians and senior medical students in attendance were drilled by the various panelists on the role they have to play in shaping the health system in Cameroon.

They also got lessons on the importance of volunteerism, leadership, the role of social media in bringing about positive change in communities, among a range of other topics.

Dr Platine Nyuyki equally called upon the young physicians to think, beyond the four walls of the consultation office. 

“You should understand that you can practice medicine beyond the four walls of the hospital. You can be changemakers, community health promoters, leading change across the community and impacting as many lives as possible,” he advised. 

On her part, Dr Gwanyama Noella who co-founded the Cameroon Young Physicians Network, called on the physicians to be innovative and implement what they had learned at the conference. 

“The take home message is for you to take up innovative ideas, conquer your fears in seeking preventive measures to improve healthcare in Cameroon,” she advised. 

She equally revealed that: “We plan to involve more young doctors from all medical schools in Cameroon, include other stakeholders from government and private institutions to further inspire them to pursue their dreams in different areas providing more holistic care”.

The young physicians who sat through the Bamenda conference, promised to be instrumental and contribute to Cameroon having a healthcare system that is worth emulating.

One of the participants, Dr Nintai acknowledged he learnt a lot from the conference.

“I learnt that as a Medical Doctor that I am, I don’t have to be comfortable with the little I have.  I can do more and I can be more,” he said. 

Dr Nintai furthered: “My reasoning towards social media has changed, because, I thought the media was just for fun purposes but I had no idea it could be a platform to showcase yourself to the world positively. The conference has made me to understand I can be part of something great and I can become great and expand”. The network has scheduled its next conference in Douala in 2025.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3172 of Thursday July 18, 2024