By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has ordered the immediate resumption of construction works on the Buea University Teaching Hospital, a long-stalled project whose completion is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery in the South West Region significantly.
The hospital project has been at a standstill since 2018, with construction halted at about 15 per cent completion. Dr Manaouda issued the directive on January 23 during a working visit to the construction site, where he assessed the state of the infrastructure and held discussions with stakeholders involved in the project.
During the tour, the company in charge of the works reaffirmed its readiness to return to the site and complete the hospital within an 18-month timeframe once work resumes. The assurance follows concerns over prolonged delays that have deprived the region of a major referral health facility.
“We must ensure that work resumes quickly,” Dr Manaouda Malachie stressed, stressing the government’s determination to see the project completed without further delay.
According to a briefing from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE), a technical evaluation of the existing structures has confirmed that they remain durable and reliable enough for construction to continue. The assessment clears the way for work to resume without the need for major reconstruction.
The Buea University Teaching Hospital is designed to serve as a key training and research facility for medical students, while also improving access to specialised healthcare services for populations in the South West and neighbouring regions.
The revival of the project, according to authorities, aligns with government efforts to modernise health infrastructure nationwide and respond to the growing healthcare needs of the population. Further steps are expected in the coming weeks to formally re-launch the works and ensure close monitoring of the project’s progress.
