Sangmelima Reference Hospital: Health minister inaugurates hemodialysis centre.

The people of Sangmelima through their leaders used the event to expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, for improving healthcare services across the country. 

The Mayor of Sangmelima, Jean Faustin Bekono Emane, emphasised that the numerous development projects undertaken so far clearly demonstrate that the town has not been forgotten. 

He further described the opening of the hemodialysis centre as a strong and symbolic act of the Head of State’s new mandate. Dr Manaouda while addressing guests highlighted the growing burden of kidney diseases, which represent a major public health challenge. 

He said data shows between 10 and 14 percent of the adult population of the country is affected by kidney-related conditions.

The minister stressed that the choice of Sangmelima for the installation of such a facility is part of the government’s wider policy to decentralise healthcare services.

The minister linked the project to the implementation of Universal Health Coverage, UHC scheme of the Head of State in place since 2023.

Thanks to the policy, he noted that patients undergoing dialysis at the Sangmelima centre will pay only 15,000 FCFA per session annually, significantly reducing the financial burden on families. 

He also expressed joy that patients will no longer to travel hundreds of kilometres to major cities to access life-saving dialysis treatment.

To the population, the minister noted that the hemodialysis centre boasts solid infrastructure with an initial capacity of six beds, equipped with six dialysis generators, including two reserved for a VIP room.

The facility, he also said, has a modern water treatment unit, fitted with three tanks and advanced filtration systems which ensure the high quality of water required for dialysis sessions. 

The minister added that the facility also has a storage area for medical kits and consumables, a 150 KVA standby generator and a water tower.

Uphold professionalism, rigour

The minister called on staff of hospital to uphold professionalism and rigour in the discharge of their duties. He noted that in a service as sensitive as hemodialysis, where patients' lives depend on precise technical procedures and strict protocols, such values are essential.

Beyond equipment and staffing, the onus, the minister opined, is developing a culture based on responsibility, discipline, and compliance with standards.

The Director of the Sangmelima Reference Hospital, Prof Dominique Noah used the event to appeal for the strengthening of human resources, the rehabilitation of the district hospital and the completion of renovation works on the presidential building of the hospital.

He also called for the upgrading of the facility from a second-category hospital to a General Hospital.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3667 of Thursday January 08, 2026