Cameroon: LECUDO USA’s 2024 Health Campaign at Clinique Saint Constant Gets Underway.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

DSCHANG, Cameroon – 60-year-old Forcha Julie has been suffering from eye problems for the past five years. An indigene of Fonjumetaw, but now residing in Douala, Madam Julie traveled from the economic capital to be in Dschang on Monday for the free medical campaign. 

"I heard that our brothers and sisters who are doctors and nurses are coming from America to consult and I decided to come and consult. The last time I was in the village they said we should come to Dschang. I came here to see and believe,” Forcha Julie said. 

The 2024 free medical/health campaign which is the third of its kind is carried out at the Clinique Saint Constant in Dschang in collaboration with the Mary Health of Africa Hospital Fontem and supported by the Lebang Cultural and Development Organization, LECUDO USA, runs from Monday, March 11 to Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

"I know that I will be healed because our brothers and sisters are helping us. They are showing us that we should love ourselves. I appreciate LECUDO USA for what they are doing to make sure that we are fine health-wise,” Forcha Julie added.

Tazanu Rufus, a son from Menji and a construction worker said: "My eyes have been disturbing me for the past three years. I am not able to see from afar. I have consulted and given medication with medicated glasses also prescribed. I saw that the medicated glasses work from the experience that I had.”

“I appreciate LECUDO USA for what they are doing, bringing people together and making sure that we got all the medications for free.”

The Medical Mission/Health Campaign is being done in partnership with Healing Beyond the Horizon USA, Life Bridge International USA, NWACUDO-USA, Clinique Saint-Constant, Purpose Medical Mission USA, NTECKA LAB, Menji Credit Union, Cameroon Oncology (Cancer) Center, CRID USA/Kambaii Health.

"I have been having eye issues for almost one year today, which gives me pains and headaches. Medicines have been provided to me for free and I was also told to buy the lenses which cost about forty thousand (40,000) FCFA. I have to go back to Fontem and check what I will do to buy the lenses," Melvis, another patient, said.

Dr Demaze Pierre Emmanuel, Director of Saint Clinique Constant in Dschang told Pan African Visions that the campaign belongs to all the villagers of Alou, Fontem, ,and also the internally displaced persons who are residing in Dschang due to the ongoing crisis.

He said:  “Our partnership with Mary Health of Africa Hospital means we have to take care of all these patients who are here to consult. We are fighting to make sure that we assist all the patients who are suffering from one illness or the other,” 

“We hope that the partnership will continue. This is the beginning and not the end. This is the first time that the campaign is coming to us here, and we would like it to continue for many years to come.”

Professor Robert Hohn Ivo Leke said: “Most of the problems we discussed were problems that needed consultation. They (patients) did not know that a woman, who has menopause and bleeding, cannot manage that; a general practitioner cannot manage that. It was important for them to know that some of their complains needed specialist medical attention.”

"I am thankful for the organizers from the U.S. What I wish is that they should try to bring in some of the Lebang children as gynecologists within Cameroon. I reminded them that I used to go to Menji to operate as an individual.”

“I encourage them to include as many gynecologists of the tribe and the region as possible, so we can continue to support them and continue to help our population. They have been in dire need of medical help since the war started,” Professor Leke added.