Cameroon:34 Surgeries Conducted as LECUDO USA’s Health Campaign in Fontem Ends.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

LEBIALEM, Cameroon – The 2024 Medical/Health campaign organized by the Lebang Cultural and Development Organization, LECUDO USA has come to an end in Fontem subdivision, Lebialem Division, South West with 34 surgeries carried out by the medical personnel.

Dr Asonglefac Bertrand, part of the surgical team for the LECUDO health campaign said: “We operated a total of 34 patients, of which 10 were minor cases ranging from a few lipomas to circumcision and the rest major cases like appendicitis.”

"There are some peculiarities with some of the cases. We had two cases of circumcision for children; one was 8 years old, and the other was 12 years old. We also had a case of testicular torsion for a case right from Buea because they heard about the campaign and traveled to Mary Health of Africa for the surgeries.”

“There were two cases that we did not have the Plato technique to manage, so we had to refer it to Dschang, and the experienced team is going to see how to manage the cases,” Dr Asonglefac Bertrand added.  

The free health campaign which is the third of its kind carried out at the Mary Health of Africa Hospital Fontem supported by LECUDO-USA, saw more than 600 patients who consulted for one reason or the other; a campaign that has been hailed for the live changing dividends for many in the heavily challenged community.

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.

“The first thing we noticed when we came was the joy on the faces of the population. It is true that these people have been suffering and harboured most of these cases for so long and because of a combination of financial issues as well as security issues, they were unable to seek appropriate medical attention for these conditions,” Dr Asonglefac Bertrand said.

“With the coming of this campaign, it has given them the platform to come to the hospital and have their problems solved. Many of them kept thanking LECUDO USA and the medical team. One of the patients even entered my office just to explain how important this campaign meant to them. Many had chronic conditions and had been trying to manage traditionally, and some have even died."

Dr Asonglefac Bertrand added: “So, this campaign was very timely, essential and it is something that should continue in the coming years with more sophistication in the materials that they will have to bring. It is going to help many more people than we did this time.”

“One of the major issues we had was on the aspect of energy. The generator needed to run 24 on 7 and with the high price of fuel; it was very difficult for us to sustain surgeries. There is a need for an energy source that can help with the sophisticated surgeries that are needed for subsequent campaigns.

Eric Njinkeng, Organizing Partner and Mary Health of Africa Hospital Manager & Health Campaign Site Coordinator said: “This health campaign started three years ago, it is not only for the local hospital but also for the population. During this period of the crisis, people are suffering because of the lack of medical personnel. LECUDO USA thought it wise to start this initiative of a health campaign which is like a big outreach to many people. It has been very beneficial to the population. Last year, many of them benefited from surgeries; that is why this year we did a lot of sensitization.

Dr Vera Fontem, one of the Lead Medical Doctors of the campaign and a gynaecologist said “I think this was a nice decision to say a lot of people should come to Fontem, because of the population we met here, we would not expect that this population was in Fontem. The population was great.

LECUDO USA and its partners will be moving to Dschang for the second phase of the campaign scheduled to run from Monday, March 11 to Wednesday, March 13.