Meritorious staff of B’da Regional Hospital rewarded

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Family Picture at the close of event with laureats

Some staffs of the Bamenda Regional Hospital have been rewarded for meritorious services to the institution.

                Over 150 of the workers with no fewer than 130 being females received their prizes during the traditional end of year prize award ceremony at the hospital esplanade on Feb 24, 2017 in a colourful ceremony presided at by the Inspector General at the NW Governor’s office Makongue Ivo Charles who represented the Governor.

                The event initially planned for December 9, 2016 and was postponed due to the social unrest that rocked the region.

                Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Matilda Manjo North West Regional Delegate for Public Health just like Makongue Ivo Charles the Inspector General of Regional Services at the Governor office just like other speakers praised the Director of the Hospital DrKinge Thompson for the initiative and for raising the standards of the hospital which can now boost of quality services while urging him to maintain and improve on the current state of the hospital.

                Justifying why the motivation event was worth a celebration, The Director highlighted the hemodialysis center with a capacity of eight new machines attending to 66 patients, the “state-of-the-art imagery center serving an average of 1250 patients per month”.

                He also cited the complete “payment of bills for all victims of the strike action in Bamenda and allocation of financial motivation to staff in recognition of their commitment, sacrifices and courage to work during difficult times of insecurity and ghost towns etc as gifts from government particularly from President PualBiya and the Minister of Public Health.”

                According to DrKinge, the hospital has tried to put “in place a reward-oriented administration” expected to give the “impetus for motivation and hard work among” the personnel which now “also serve as a platform for the fight against indiscipline and corruption.”  

DrKinge Thompson Njie used the occasion to evaluate 2016 being the year under review. Heexplained that though the duties and responsibilities remained “enormous and very challenging” but due to commitment, determination and sacrifice over 71 000 consultations were made, 15,495 patients admitted with a bed occupancy rate of 84% producing a total of 74, 808 hospitalization days. 

                While regretting the 804 deaths recorded in 2016, DrKinge noted that a good number of these deaths were preventable.

                “We are unhappy to announce that the major reason behind most of the preventable deaths or what we may term “careless deaths” is related to the fact that many sick people come late to the hospital-at such a point when the doctors and nurses are unable to do anything again.” He said.

                The administrator blamed this on the ignorance of many on the treatment opportunities put in place by government in the Bamenda Regional Hospital at the disposal of both poor and rich Cameroonians.

                DrKinge used the example of “free treatment for children below five years who suffer from uncomplicated malaria, free distribution of mosquito nets to pregnant mothers”, free treatment for HIV infections irrespective of the patient’s CD4 cells and others.

                The National chairman of the SDF John FruNdi, the Attorney General of the North West, the Bamenda Regional Hospital staff Association baby choir, musicians amongst others graced the event which comes just a few days to the 60th anniversary of the hospital.