By Sonita Ngunyi Nwohtazie
DSCHANG, MARCH 23, 2023 – “This is the best news I have heard for over five years now; I am so grateful to LECUDO-USA and her partners for reactivating the health centre for us. This will go a long way to improve our health conditions and equally reduce the number of dead in our community,” Nkengbeza Margarette said with excitement on her face.
This is how the Lebang people rejoiced at the news of the institution of a medical team at the Mary Health of Africa Hospital, located in Menji, South West Region of Cameroon, which has not been operational for over five years, since the outbreak of the sociopolitical unrest in the two English speaking regions.
The announcement was made by the Fon of Fontem, alongside LECUDO-USA and her partners on March 21, 2023, at the Fiangep Polyclinic during the 2023 Medical Mission in Dschang, West Region of Cameroon.
Commonly referred to as one of the best hospitals in the South West Region, the centre will breathe the presence of medics and patients. One of the former medical doctors, who worked tirelessly, to treat the Lebialem population for several years, and left because of the crisis, has said he will be making the return to the area.
“I have worked and lived with this population for about six years, and that made them have confidence in me,” Dr Michelle Mukendi told Pan African Visions. “Leaving with them is always like staying with family, and when they saw me coming back again to consult them, during the Fontem outreach, I felt I must go back to continue to live with them and take care of their health conditions. As I had done some years ago, especially after discovering that, these people need serious follow-up. They need a medical doctor there who was once a reference,” Dr Michelle Mukendi added.
“I continued to stay in Fontem because I had nowhere else to go and also because I had hopes that one day help will be extended to us by our people. Listening to the Fon announced the coming back of Dr Michelle, brought back happiness and took away fear from my heart,” Awunglefac Joseph, a resident of Fontem said.
Being the head of the Lebang people, the Fon of Fontem described this health campaign by LECUDO-USA, Life-Bridge International, Healing Beyond the Horizon and Fiangep Polyclinic and Mary Health of Africa Hospital as an action of revival.
“I am very happy that people can come up with an initiative like this. Last year, it was limited to Dschang, but this year we extended it to Mary Health of Africa Hospital in Menji, where over one thousand people who had not received health care services for over five years were able to get themselves treated. I can only say a big thank you to the LECUDO organization and her partners for thinking about their people,” said the Fon of Fontem.
“It has been a tireless effort to have a resident doctor and fortunately, our gods and ancestors have provided us with one, Dr Michelle. He was initially at the hospital and left because of the crisis, but because of his love for our people, he has agreed to go back to the hospital and be a resident doctor there. For this, I say thank you to him for accepting to put the lives of my people first.”
As LECUDO-USA and Partners’ annual health campaign continues to create more impact in the lives of the Lebang people, next year’s campaign will take another dimension.
“With those in Fontem being the most venerable with the absence of a medical doctor and equipment depleted, LECUDO-USA, Healing beyond the Horizon and Life-Bridge International and Mary Health of Africa Hospital have decided to do a full-scale campaign in Fontem,” LECUDO-USA President Atem Terrence explains.
“After an intensive meeting with Dr Michelle Mukendi, he accepted to be the resident doctor of Nveh, providing our people with a medical team on their side, that will serve them with good quality medical services.”
It should be recalled that this is the second edition of the Medical Mission and LECUDO-USA and Partners say this will continue in the foreseeable future. With this hope has been given to the population who continue to stay in Fontem amidst the crisis that sees them travel the long road from Fontem to Dschang to seek medical help.
As the annual health campaign continues to create more impact in the lives of the Lebang people, good health, education, development and cultural preservation remain the primary objectives of LECUDO-USA, Life-Bridge International, Healing Beyond the Horizon and Fiangep Polyclinic and Mary Health of Africa Hospital.
