Cameroon:Fako Washington Assists Bwassa-Likombe Health Facility

Fako Washington President Mosaso Nathaniel  addressing Bwassa/Likombe villagers during the donation.

By Christopher Ambe

The villages of Bwassa and Likombe in Buea Subdivision, Fako Division of Cameroon, ended the year 2016 on a happy note as the lone state-owned but poorly equipped health facility shared by both villages were given a significant face-lift by Fako Washington, an association of sons and daughters of Fako resident in Washington-USA.

     Fako Washington assisted the health facility materially and otherwise to enable it better attend to the health care needs of its target populations. The assistance was valued at over two million FCFA.

Mosaso Nathaniel at entrance of the health center

    The Bwassa-Likombe Integrated Health Center, constructed over ten years ago  by the state of Cameroon, to cater for the health care needs of the above mentioned villages along the slopes of Mount Cameroon, lacked health care basics, had no electricity and  water; the facility  was understaffed yet was operational.

    And so on December 31, 2016, Fako Washington, led by its able President Software Engineer Mosaso Nathaniel and native of Likombe, came to the assistance of the health center.

  The association donated to the facility: mattresses, bed sheets, a microscope, a centrifuge. It got the center electrified and provided it with a huge water tank.Fako Washington also painted the structure.

Kamdem Joseph,of Public Health Ministry, lauds donation

Speaking at the donation ceremony, which brought together the traditional rulers of both villages, their elites and other villagers, Mosaso Nathaniel told the audience that, when he visited the health center last September he found it in dire need of basics and he immediately promised to mobilize resources for its assistance.

     “I know that all the problems of this health center have not been solved but these donations are a step forward”, he said, promising to do more for the villages. “Good health is a prerequisite for development”

    Surprised that a state-owned facility could lack even basics, the President of Fako Washington urged the Cameroon government to live up to expectation by further equipping the facility and increasing its personnel.

Cross-section of villagers who witnessed the donation

    Earlier in her welcome address, Madam Ilambo Bibiana, the Chief of the health facility, commended the initiative of Fako Washington, noting: “This year would remain a wonderful one in the history of this health facility.” She alluded to earlier donations to the center made by a Bwassa elite Moki Charles Linonge “who brightened our face with a donation of modern beds, mattresses and microscope”, and Hon. Lisinge Ekeke Arthur,MP for Buea Urban, who assisted financially for the purchase of electric cable.

     Ilambo promised the judicious use of the donations but requested more assistance. “We urgently need a night-watch man and more nurses. The residence of the nurse in charge needs to be completed, so the chief of centre can live near the center and better ensure health coverage; we need to fence the center’s land for future development”

     For his part, an elated Mr.kamdem Joseph,a  representative of the Ministry of Public Health,said he was convinced the health facility would now be able provide “a complete Minimum Package of Activity(MPA) which includes daily consultations and treatments of minor cases and referral of serious cases to secondary level centres around, vaccinations, antenatal care, deliveries of uncompleted labour cases, minor surgeries…screening for high blood pressure,HIV/AIDS and the provision of essential medicines “

     Other speakers at the ceremony included the Chief of Bwassa,Eko John and Mola Njie Luma who sat in for the chief of Likombe Francis Ndumbe Luma.Both  showered praises on Fako Washington, praying God to bless them and their efforts.

      Prince Esuka Endeley,President of Fako America(the umbrella association of Fako elements in the USA),who witnessed the donation, encouraged self-reliant development among Fako people, and  hinted of projects  by  the umbrella association to boost development back home.

    Cultural dances and choral singing animated the ceremony