Mefou & Afamba: Minister raises alarm over management of Mfou Hospital.

He expressed the concern during a series of unannounced visits in some health facilities on Thursday, November 13. The member of government also saluted the work done in some facilities especially those in the private sector.

The minister during the visit noted that he observed a sharp contrast in the management of private health facilities and the Mfou District Hospital. 

He toured four private establishments and the Mfou District Hospital. The member of government said the unannounced visit aimed at assessing service quality, management, and general health conditions in the area.

At the Mfou District Hospital, an exasperated crowd voiced longstanding grievances. “Minister, there are no toilets”, “There are no staff on duty in the evening”, “The hospital is dirty, and the cleaning staff are not being paid” some of the residents lamented.

Inside the hospital, the minister said his observations confirmed the gravity of the situation. Dr Manaouda said he found that the Director of the hospital was absent and services were poorly coordinated with administrative staff also absent.

He added that shelves in the pharmacy were empty while patients were neglected and the entire premises was unkempt. Firmly expressing his dissatisfaction, Dr Manaouda stated: “We cannot continue like this. It is unacceptable”.

The public health boss instructed the administrative personnel present to convene an urgent consultation with all staff members to draft concrete proposals to reorganize human resources. 

The minister also asked for measures to be taken to improve patient care and restoration of public trust.

Addressing the population, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment, “to provide every Cameroonian with quality care and services. We will work to achieve this. Trust us”.

After the troubling first stop, the minister later toured several private healthcare facilities in Mfou, where he encountered a strikingly different reality. 

The facilities were; Les Rois Mages Medical Center, Ad Lucem Hospital in Zalom, Père Monti Medical Center, and Elanssial Pharmacy.

Dr Manaouda was welcomed by visibly motivated and organised teams. True to his approachable style, he engaged warmly with staff members before asking details on how the facilities were functioning.

In all the private facilities, he praised the cleanliness of the infrastructures, the functionality of medical equipment and the professionalism of the staff. 

He congratulated the managers of the establishments for their essential role in improving healthcare coverage. Dr Manaouda noted that private facilities remain indispensable partners within the national health system.

Despite the commendations, Dr Manaouda issued several recommendations which he said were aimed at strengthening patient safety and service efficiency.

He stressed on the necessity for improved biomedical waste management and better organisation of available space to minimise infection risks.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3629 of Wednesday November 19, 2025