Bamenda, Buea referral hospitals: Health minister promises relaunch of construction projects.

The construction works on both structures which started in 2017 are said to have been abandoned in the heat of the armed conflict in the two regions.

Minister Manaouda who was in Buea on Wednesday August 7, 2024, to launch the Universal Health Coverage Health Voucher for the North West and South West Regions, promised that plans are underway to relaunch the constructions.

He was responding to worries raised by the Mayor of Buea, David Mafani Namange, who expressed regrets that the construction work for the Buea Referral Hospital has not been restarted despite the improving security situation in the region. 

Mayor Namange also called on the minister to upgrade the Buea Medicalised Health Centre into a District Hospital to better meet the needs and expectations of the people.

The city of Buea has witnessed a huge increase in its population because of its relative security during the socio-political crisis in the two restive Anglophone regions. 

This security environment has attracted Cameroonians from different parts of the two regions to settle in the city.

Such an increase in population has increased the pressure on health facilities, thus warranting the need to finish the state-of-the-art Buea Referral Hospital. 

The hospital, the mayor said, will minimise the referral of patients from the South West to other regions.

Minister launches UHC Health Voucher

Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon was a promise made by President Paul Biya on December 31, 2017, with the first phase finally launched in April 2023. 

It has as goal to ensure access to quality health to the population and this has to be achieved by removing financial barriers and improving the quality of care given to the population.

Beneficiaries for the first phase of the Universal Health Coverage include free consultation for children 0-5 years, care for pregnant women enrolled, free antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and coverage for daily dialysis session.

Addressing stakeholders in health during the launch, the minister encouraged them to remain professional to ensure that the population understands what Universal Health Coverage is and those set to benefit from the programme. 

He promised continuous support to ensure health facilities have the resources and personnel to deliver the best services to the population.

Speaking to the press after the launch, the minister called for a synergy of actions to ensure that more Cameroonians get enrolled with the universal health coverage scheme to reduce the burden of health care on the population.

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3194 of Friday August 09, 2024