- In a move to enhance healthcare infrastructure in Cameroon, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, on behalf of President Paul Biya, officially opened the Bertoua Regional Hospital Centre (CHR) in the East Region on Monday, June 10, 2024. This state-of-the-art hospital, equipped with modern facilities, is part of the government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the public at affordable rates. The Bertoua Regional Hospital is the fourth of its kind to be inaugurated, following similar facilities in Ebolowa, Bafoussam, and Garoua.
Spanning 12,000 square meters, the CHR of Bertoua represents an investment of approximately 8.9 billion CFA Francs. Construction began on April 27, 2017, with an initial target completion date of May 31, 2021. However, the project faced multiple delays, with revised deadlines of September 2021, December 2021, and finally, the end of 2022. These postponements caused concern, but the April 2024 commissioning and inauguration mark the culmination of a long wait.
Equipped with cutting-edge medical devices like scanners, autoclaves, incubators, and defibrillators, the hospital features state-of-the-art equipment comparable to those found in developed countries. With three operating rooms and advanced medical technology, patients can feel reassured about the quality of care they receive. The hospital, like other established healthcare facilities, ensures equitable access to quality healthcare services for all individuals. - The paramedical staff consists of 116 individuals, including 76 nursing aides. Additionally, the CHR employs 26 laboratory technicians, 5 engineers and technicians in medical imaging, 4 mortuary attendants, 4 civil engineering personnel, and 30 maintenance agents. The Ministry also highlighted the valuable support provided by interns in advanced training
The establishment of the Bertoua Regional Hospital will enable the population of the East region to access specialized and advanced medical care locally, reducing the need to seek treatment in other regions for complex medical conditions.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the CHR began offering a full range of services upon its commissioning on April 19, 2024. Initially, only emergency, laboratory, and imaging services were available. This allowed for an evaluation and improvement of the emergency patient flow before the full suite of services was activated within two weeks.
“Early results are encouraging,” the ministry reported. “In just 51 days since opening, the facility has recorded 299 consultations, 784 laboratory tests, and 235 imaging analyses. Laboratory and imaging services, including CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds, are particularly in demand.”
The Ministry confirmed that surgery, emergency, and maternity services are now fully operational. As of today, 23 successful surgeries have been performed, and 30 births have been recorded. Notably, pediatrics has seen 21 cases, including a six-year-old who recovered after ingesting acid and receiving unsuccessful treatment at other facilities before being transferred to the CHR.
