A Health Centre project in Cameroon

Adam Hinton

Children in Cameroon

Cameroon remains one of the world's poorest countries. Life expectancy is 48 years and there are extremely high rates of maternal, infant and child mortality. 

• In the Eastern province, the majority of births are unattended - the nearest maternal care facility is 30km away
• Over 50% of pregnant women suffer from anaemia, which can lead to fatal complications for mother and child
• Over 20% of children under 5 in the East Province are malnourished
• 70% of blindness in under 5s is due to Vitamin A deficiency 
• The Moutcheboum health centre in the rural Doume district currently provides a service to 6,000 people. It was started several years ago but never completed. It is lacking in essential technical equipment and can only provide a basic service   

The aim of this project:

• Improve access to healthcare for 6,000 local people around Moutcheboum
• Improve health centre staff's knowledge of childhood diseases
• Reduce child morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases
• Contribute to a reduction in child malnutrition
• Provide improved maternal care, leading to a reduction in maternal and infant mortality
• Increase awareness of health and hygiene issues, and good nutrition, and encourage positive behaviour change
• Improve the health centre's physical environment

Project Activities

• Rehabilitate and equip the existing health centre building
• Build a delivery room equipped with 10 beds and 5 cots
• Construct a well with hand-pump and 10 comportment latrines. The well will also be available to local families and to the school opposite the health centre
• Conduct refresher training for health staff on the management of childhood diseases
• Three-day training course to train elected Health Centre Management Committee (HCMC) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to conduct health and hygiene awareness raising activities
• The health centre is currently staffed by a nurse and a pharmacy assistant, paid by the Ministry of Health. Attempts will be made to increase the personnel at the centre

Local involvement in the project

• An Elected Health Centre Management Team, consisting of medical staff and local community members will help with the management of the project.
• The community will provide unskilled labour and local materials.
• Community based organisations (CBOs) consisting of individuals who are eager to play a role in the development of their communities will be instrumental in mobilising the community. Four groups have already been trained on health issues and two more CBOs will be introduced. As a result, there will be a strong base of individuals who are able to carry out educational activities to their peers.

Project's sustainability

Local families will be fully involved in this project. The Ministry of Health has given its support to the Health Management Committee as part of its policy of community participation in public health facilities. The local authority will recruit and pay the health centre staff. The collection of minimal user fees by the management committee will contribute to the financial maintenance of the project.