Public-Private Partnership:

New ultra-modern Mortuary for Buea

The mortuary project is the fruit of a Build-Operate-and-Transfer, BOT, agreement between the Buea Council & some private partners

By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Mayor Ekema& Dr. Mokake Martin at Mortuary Site

The Mayor of Buea, Patrick EsungeEkema and Dr. Martin Mokake, a medic working at the Buea Regional Hospital have on Friday 8 July 2016 laid the foundation stone for an ultra-modern mortuary to be constructed in Buea. The project estimated to cost about FCFA 200 million is the fruit of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, signed between the Buea council and Dr. Martin Mokake, who also lectures at the UB Faculty of Health Sciences and heads the University’s Health Care unit.

                Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Mokake who conceived the project said the new mortuary will be constructed according to W.H.O. standard. It wil be located adjacent to the Buea Regional Hospital Mortuary and will have a 100 corpses capacity.

                As part of its commitments in the Build-Operate-and-Transfer partnership agreement signed with its private partner, the Buea Council has provided the land (120 sq. m) to host the new mortuary. Meanwhile, the funding for the project will be provided by Buea-based business mogul, Dr. Charles NammeMenyoli.

                Upon completion the mortuary will be managed for and on behalf of the private partners by the authorities of the Buea Regional Hospital for a period of 66 years that is until 2082. Meanwhile, during this period the Buea Council will receive monthly rents for the land.

                Speaking at a ceremony to officially launch the mortuary project at Buea Council Chambers, Mayor Patrick EkemaEsunge revealed that the BOT agreement was deliberated and ratified by the counselors of the municipality by virtue of              Municipal Deliberation No 074/2015Mayor Ekema said the project also has the blessings of the Public Health minister, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, the Governor of the SWR, the SDO for Fako and the National Institute of Statistics in Yaoundé.

                On the raison d’etre for the project, the mayor said it was conceived out of necessity:

                “The mortuary of the Buea Regional Hospital has become grossly inadequate to accommodate the increasing number of corpses that come from all over the SWR and even beyond,” Mayor Ekema said, adding that despite its world class standard, the services at the new mortuary will be offered at the rates that are operated in other public mortuaries.

                Also speaking at the launching ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Dr. NalovaLyonga hailed the authorities of the Buea Council and its private partners for the wonderful idea which she said will benefit the populations of the entire SW Region and beyond. She pledged the technical assistance of the University of Buea.

                Construction work for the project is expected to begin on Monday 11 July 2016 and end in September 2016.