Unprecedented pragmatism: Health minister accompanies health workers on night shift on New Year eve.

Dr Manaouda did not only show solidarity with the health workers who were on night shift, but personally called several of them across the country to extend words of encouragement. 

The action by the dynamic, workaholic, result-oriented minister, many within and without the health sector said, is a strong choice rooted in responsibility and hands-on leadership. They said this has shown that Minister Manaouda is leaving no stone unturned in meeting the Head of State’s vision for a performant health sector.

The republican and patriotic events of high symbolic significance took place at the Centre for the Coordination of Public Health Emergency Operations, known by its French acronym, CCOUSP. The events reflected the Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health of the population.

Listening to Head of State’s address to nation

The Minister started the evening from 7:00 p.m., with the coordinated collective listening to the address to the Nation by the Head of State. Alongside teams on duty at the CCOUSP, Minister Manaouda Malachie shared this solemn moment of national communion, reaffirming the continuity of the State, the sense of duty, and the need for collective mobilisation in the face of public health challenges.

National communion with Indomitable Lions

In the same spirit of unity and patriotism, Minister Manaouda, accompanied by teams on duty at the CCOUSP, watched the match of the Indomitable Lions who played against Zimbabwe at the ongoing African Cup of Nations taking place in Morrocco. This moment of fellowship and encouragement underscored the importance of national cohesion, collective morale, and shared commitment at this pivotal time of transition into the new year.

Encourages health workers 

One of the highlights of the New Year eve watch was the Minister’s strong message of encouragement to the “health soldiers”, the women and men who remain permanently mobilised to ensure the health security of Cameroonians, including during festive periods.

Live phone calls to on-call hospital staff

Going beyond symbolism, the Minister of Public Health made live phone calls to on-call health personnel in several hospitals across the country. These direct and warm exchanges gave him the opportunity to commend their professionalism, dedication, and sense of sacrifice, while reaffirming the Government’s full support.

This, many analysts have stated, would boost the morales of these health personnel and encourage them to work harder in ensuring the health of Cameroonians.

Proximity governance and a state on alert

Through his active presence at the CCOUSP on New Year eve, the Minister of Public Health once again embodied a model of proximity governance based on leadership by example, attentiveness, and recognition. A strong message was sent to both health workers and the population: public health never sleeps, and the State remains fully alert to protect lives, at all times and across the entire national territory.

It should be recalled that in the past, Minister Manaouda had carried out impromptu and surprise visits to health facilities to get first-hand information of the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients. These visits aimed to gather direct information to tackle systemic challenges like resource scarcity, mismanagement, and poor infrastructure within Cameroon's health sector.

During such visits, the minister inspected hospital’s conditions, often finding severe issues like staff shortages, poor sanitation, absent directors, and empty pharmacies, leading him to decry the unacceptable state of care, while also addressing patient transfers to private facilities and observing construction progress at key hospitals.

Solomon Tembang 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3663 of Sunday January 04, 2025