Njinikom Catholic Hospital Resumes Activities at Last

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Sis Jethro Supervising an Operation

After weeks of inactivity, St. Martin de Porres Catholic General Hospital in Njinikom has reopened its doors to the public with even more improved and quality services. For over two weeks in the Month of December 2017, the Hospital was plagued by a crisis that saw the suspension of activities at the hospital.

                Speaking to The Median, the new Administrator of the Hospital, Sister Jethro Nkenglefac who is the 10th administrator of the hospital since it was created in 1963 revealed that the “zeal to serve” has brought them back.

“Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Njinikom had crisis but it is normalizing. We want to tell the world that we have restarted and all services that were operating before the crisis have come back” she revealed adding that by the end of the “month of December, 2017, we saw more than 1000 patients and we have decided at the level of the staff, at the level of the community to give ourselves new hope”. 

                In a tour to ascertain whether the hospital had effectively opened its doors, The Median accosted a female patient who was recovering from a fatal road accident that saw the death of her sister and the driver. She showered praises to the hospital for the quality services they render and for reopening their doors to the public.

                This reporter also visited the surgical department of the hospital where a team of doctors were conducting an operation on a patient to correct a disjointed wrist. It was the second operation of the day after another successful one earlier that day. 

                A visit to all the departments in the hospital led by the Administrator was testimony of a hospital that had not only reopened its doors but one that was committed to render even more improved quality services to its patients and caregivers. 

                With qualified and motivated staff, the hospital provides exemplary services through Christ-centered, evidence-based health care to an average of 40 patients daily.

                Amongst other things, St. Martin de Porres Catholic General Hospital Njinikom, has a localized outpatient department (OPD) designed to considerably reduce patients’ waiting time, a vibrant treatment center with over 1000 registered patients. Apart from its renowned general and orthopedic surgery services, the 55 year old hospital has a well equipped laboratory with ultra modern machines that have considerably reduced patients’ waiting time as the machines have the ability to run multiple tests on a blood sample in few minutes. The hospital also has a rest house for visitors and also a canteen that sales quality cheap food to patients, caregivers and hospital staff.

                The hospital has a bed capacity of over 235 as of 2016. Between 1963 and 2011, the hospital conducted over 141, 652 operations, 121, 92 deliveries and 2,811,402 consultations. The hospital also runs outreach health centres at Ngwa, Ilung, Achain, Mbessa, Elemighong and Mbueni.

                Created in January 1953, St. Martin de Porres Catholic General Hospital Njinikom, has had nine Matrons; Srs. Ruth Gamper, Lydia Pardella, Maria Rosa Fotabong, Sr. Relindis Piazza, Eva Maria Kaufhold, Gabriela Nena, Xaveria Ntenmusi, Olive Marie Nga and presently Jethro Nkeglefac who is coming in with a wealth of experience from Cardiac Center of the St Elizabeth General Hospital in Shisong.

                The first resident Medic was Dr. Carson from USA. Later on, 13 resident doctors from Holland, two from Britain, one each from Italy, Germany, Nigeria, Ghana and Zarie, five from USA, two from Guinea Conakry and over 13 from Cameroon have worked at the hospital.