PAACS, CIMS programs

CBC Health Academy graduates three specialist medics 
By Njodzefe Nestor
Three specialists have graduated from the CBC Health Services’ Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) and Christian Internal Medicine Specialization (CIMS) training programmes. This was on 20 June 2015, at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital, MBH Chapel. The specialists are expected to serve CBC Health Services ever increasing patients.
Dr. Mwenyemali Benjamin Tony from Congo and Dr. Evaristus Etape Njume from Cameroon graduated from PAACS as general surgeons while Dr. Tumi Divine Bahtila from Cameroon is a certified internist.
    Beginning this year, the accrediting institution, Loma Linda Univeristy in the United States of America now co-signs the Diplomas of the PAACS and CIMS graduates.
Addressing all who turned out to witness the graduation ceremony, the Executive President of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC), Rev. Ncham Godwill, said that the future of medicine lies in specialization.
    Rev. Ncham rejoiced that the graduation of the three new doctors from PAACS and CIMS is helping the CBC to go a step further in the realization of its goal to have specialized hospitals that partner with the government to bring quality health care closer to the population.
    In his commencement address, Dr. Philip Fischer, Professor of Pediatrics preached compassion and selflessness, citing the example of Dr. Salia Martin who recently died fighting Ebola in Liberia.
    The medic exhorted the PAACS and CIMS specialists to exercise humility and go to God for healing because they are inadequate. The result of their participation, Dr. Fischer said, will be the spread of the kingdom of God.

In a Charge to the graduates, Dr. Jason Axt reminded them of the natural gifts they have been blessed with and encouraged them to use these gifts to help others. “To whom much is given, much is expected,” he stated.
    He described the graduates as sharp, intelligent minds with the ability to understand complex problems. Dr. Jason Axt, therefore, charged the trio to show faithfulness to their patients even though they cannot possibly treat all. 
    On her part the fourth Deputy Mayor of Belo Council, Mrs.Chia Janet Fien said she was happy to see specialist doctors trained every year in her municipality. She regretted that with the slow nature of decentralisation in Cameroon, councils like hers are still unable to sponsor hospitals and health centres.
    The CBC Director of Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih said the fifth batch of PAACS and the fourth batch of CIMS trained specialists have come with a renewed sense of optimism and hoped that the Pan-African institution can train more specialists, provide a modern laboratory and resourceful library that will promote research in the sub-region and in Africa as a whole. He said he does not doubt the quality of the graduates passed out from the programmes.
    On his part, the Board Chair of the CBC Health Services Dr. Wefuan Jonah appreciated the board members and the dedicated people who have made the PAACS and CIMS dream come true.
    In their response the three graduates expressed gratitude to their families, MBH family, the CBC Health Services and their tutors who supported them during their training, lauding the merits of a training that is built on apprenticeship as 70 per cent of their tuition took place in the theatre.