MP Renovates Mother Care Unit at L’be Regional Hospital

-Also rewards students for excellence

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

Hon. Gladys Etombi Ikome handing over refurbished building at the Limbe regional  hospital

The Member of Parliament for Fako East Constituency Hon. Etombi Ikome Gladys on Wednesday May 9 2018 organized two separate ceremonies to hand over a refurbished building at the Limbe regional hospital at Mile 1, and to celebrate excellence in some schools in Limbe.

            The events at the premises of the regional hospital and the Limbe City Council hall at Down Beach respectively, were presided over by the SDO for Fako, Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux.

            Handover the maternity ward at the regional hospital, Hon. Itombi Gladys expressed joy for the successful realization of the project which she said will go a long way to limit deaths during child delivery. She called on women to make proper use of the building.

            She said the rehabilitation of the 70-years-old building falls in line with her priority projects in the domains of health, education and agriculture.

            “Money is not the issue here. It is the vision i have for my people. It cost me over 5 million cfa to refurbish the hospital but I am fine with it because my aim was to put a smile on the faces of these women. And I will continue to do it God being my helper,” said the MP, who noted that “health is wealth, and a healthy woman brings stability to her home.”

            She recalled that during the 5 years of her mandate as MP she has assisted some 10 women suffering from obstetric fistulas, several men suffering from prostate cancer, equipment of some hospitals and health centres in Limbe amongst others.

            Receiving the renovated building, the director of the Limbe regional hospital, Dr.Denis Nsame, thanked the MP for the gesture and promised to put it to appropriate use.

            Dr. Nsame said the building will serve as mother and child center that is as antenatal clinic (ANC) and infant welfare clinic (IWC). He explained that the choice to use the building as a center for the care of mother and child is in bid to reduce the high number of neonatal and maternal deaths.

            He revealed that at least 782 women die in Cameroon annually, for every 100.000 child deliveries. The Southwest region alone registered 49 deaths out of 28.376 deliveries in 2016 and 41 in 2017.

            Presenting statistics for the Limbe Regional Hospital, the Director noted that there were 4 maternal and 36 neonatal deaths out of a total 1049 deliveries in 2017. While so far, 232 deliveries with 2 maternal deaths (both occurring on the 4th of April 2018) and 17 neonatal deaths have been recorded in 2018.

            He said most of these deaths are preventable but regretted that women don’t show up for pre-natal advice and care.

            Dr. Denis Nsame said the “one-stop-shop” will be used to enhance mother and child care with activities such as follow up of pregnant women, routine laboratory tests for pregnant women, free vaccination against tetanus, free IPT for malaria amongst others. The infant welfare center shall also host free vaccination of children from 0-11months against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tetanus and more. The building will also be used as a mini-pharmacy, mini-laboratory and a consultation office for gynecologists.

            Pregnant women were advised by the director to come to the hospital for checkups whenever they realize they are pregnant. This is so that complicated issues can be identified early for prompt treatment by specialists and it will help reduce neonatal and maternal deaths in the hospital. 

            For his part, the Limbe Government Delegate, Andrew Motanga Monjimba, who doubles as the chairman of the management board of the hospital, hailed the MP for her good works over the years. He said her exemplary stewardship will be rewarded when the time comes. He tasked the staff and director of the LRH to take care of the ‘gift’ and called on the population to make maximum use of the center.

            Like Oliver Twist, the director of the hospital said the hospital needs more staff, new equipment in the renovated ward and the installation of a standby generator among others.

Academic Excellence Award

            The MP extended her parliamentary outreach program with the award of certificates and gifts to some 125 outstanding pupils and students of different primary and secondary schools in Limbe.

            “These prizes worth over 3 million cfa are in recognition of academic excellence and to promote good moral behavior among students who are the leaders of tomorrow. We cannot undermine the education of our children. Reason why I have sponsored over 100 children in different schools. We have to encourage education because it is the main pillar of a nation. I hope the recipients will use this opportunity to do even better in future,” said Itombi Gladys.

            The divisional Fako delegate of basic education, Nkongho, thanked Hon. Etombi for the gesture. He encouraged other student to work hard so that they too can be recognized in the future.

            Mr Nkongho called on the MP to consider teachers in the next edition of the awaards.

            It was the fourth edition of the Hon. Gladys Itombi excellence awards. The laureates from all the schools were pulled together this year as a way of promoting living together amidst the ongoing crisis.

            Asked if the events are not part of her campaign for reelection, the MP responded that: “If anybody thinks I am doing this because elections are around the corner, then that person is wrong because I have been doing these since I came to office in 2013 and I have been serving everybody in my constituency and not only militants of my CPDM party. I am not campaigning; I am just doing what will bring joy to people.”

            The Government Delegate once more congratulated Hon. Etombi Gladys for being a true representative of the people. He made a vibrant call to other politicians and members of the community to emulate the good example of the MP.

            The GD used the occasion to announce the launching of the Limbe City Council Scholarship Scheme for the 2017/2018 academic year at GBHS Limbe. The scheme is worth over 31 million fcfa.