Bamenda: CATUC medical students take awareness campaign to neighbourhoods.

Officials said it was part of an academic programme designed to expose future healthcare professionals to real-life public health challenges.

Some of the students served members of the public at the Atuakom Integrated Health Centre. The students visited more than 120 households in Meta Quarters, Old Sanajes, Atuazire and Abangoh.

They sensitised residents on proper sanitation, safe drinking water, disease prevention, waste management, and other practices that promote healthier living.

The team leader, Kuyam Blaise Timchia, a Level 300 medical student, said the outreach enabled students to translate classroom knowledge into practical experience, while helping communities adopt healthier behaviours.

“Our objective is not only to understand the administrative and health organisation of a community but also to educate residents on practices that can improve their health and protect their environment,” Kuyam said.

According to the team lead, the students assessed household waste disposal methods, water treatment practices, mosquito net usage, and environmental conditions that increase the risk of vector-borne diseases. 

Kuyam added that they told the population to avoid self-medication. He said they also emphasised the need for regular hand washing, proper treatment of drinking water, and the elimination of stagnant water around homes. 

He noted that refuse collection trucks are unable to access some communities because of poor road conditions. The situation, he said, has forced residents to dump waste into gutters and streams, leading to blocked drainage systems and environmental pollution.

Despite the challenges, he said the students encountered positive examples of responsible waste management.

“We met a woman who had separated her household waste into different bags for plastics, bottles, cans, and biodegradable waste. That is the kind of practice we hope more families will adopt,” he said.

The communication focal person at the Atuakom Integrated Health Centre, Monifor Lawrence, described the programme as beneficial to both the students and the communities.

He said the field exercise equipped students with practical experience, strengthened their communication skills, and enabled them to apply classroom knowledge, while educating residents on preventive healthcare.

Mafor Christabel, a resident of Old Sanajes, said the students educated her on environmental hygiene and the prevention of diseases such as malaria and typhoid through proper sanitation. Mafor said the medical students also educated them on the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Another resident, Mukong Martin, described the outreach as informative and timely. He said it has increased awareness of simple measures that can help families prevent common diseases.

Fon Clement Tawah used the opportunity to call on the Bamenda City Council and other authorities to address persistent waste management problems affecting the community.

He warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into streams and gutters continues to pollute water sources and expose residents to preventable diseases.

“I appeal to the authorities to come and see these problems for themselves and help us find lasting solutions to improve waste management in this community,” he said.

By Yong Fabrice Yuh, Journalism student on internship

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3848 of Wednesday July 15, 2026