By Boris Esono Nwenfor and Tome Pearl
BUEA, Cameroon – Cameroon has taken a significant step toward strengthening its health system as Minister of Public Health Dr. Manaouda Malachie inaugurated the country’s first medical liquid oxygen production and storage facility at Limbe Regional Hospital on August 21.
The Public Health Minister equally launched the National Chronic Kidney Screening Campaign at the Presbyterian Diagnostic Urgent Care Centre in Buea, South West Region. The double health initiative underscores government and community efforts to build resilience in the face of persistent health challenges.
During his visit, Dr. Manaouda Malachie visited the Buea Regional Hospital Centre Construction Site, the chronic kidney screening sites at the Presbyterian Diagnostic Urgent Care Centre and Buea Regional Hospital.
Oxygen Independence
The newly launched medical oxygen system marks a major milestone for the South West Region, which has long relied on supplies from Douala and Yaoundé. With this facility, the region now boasts a self-sufficient, high-purity oxygen production and storage unit.
The new system empowers the region with self-sufficient, high-purity oxygen production, reducing dependence on supply. It guarantees reliable oxygen access for key hospital units such as Intensive Care Units (ICUs), operating rooms, neonatology and can also serve surrounding health centres.
He recalled how recent global health crises, including COVID-19, revealed severe shortages in medical oxygen and placed immense strain on hospitals. In response, the Ministry of Public Health created a task force in 2021 and rolled out a five-year strategy to improve oxygen availability nationwide.
“This development will allow healthcare providers to deliver faster, more efficient care, especially for conditions like pneumonia, childbirth complications, and chronic respiratory illnesses,” Dr Manaouda Malachie said. “Ultimately, it improves survival rates and strengthens the healthcare system’s overall response capacity.”
Medical experts say the project is a game-changer. With locally produced oxygen, hospitals will cut delays in emergency response, reduce mortality rates, and ensure faster, more efficient care delivery.
Championing Kidney Health
The National Chronic Kidney Screening Campaign, supported by CARNA Health in partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), aims to address kidney disease, one of the country’s growing yet often overlooked health threats.
The Moderator of the PCC, Rt. Rev. Miki Hans Abia welcomed the initiative and expressed gratitude for the recognition of the PCC’s role in advancing healthcare. He highlighted the scope of the PCC’s contributions to the health sector, mentioning the numerous hospitals, health centres, eye clinics, and intensive child health services managed by the Church.
Rt. Rev. Miki Hans outlined the PCC’s key contributions, ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention programs to healthcare support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the crisis in the North West and South West Regions. The church also runs a biomedical training centre under the Ministry of Higher Education.
However, the Moderator also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including limited transportation for outreach programs and a lack of electricity in some localities. Looking ahead, he revealed that the PCC plans to open a specialised Eye Hospital in Garoua, further expanding access to specialised care.
The back-to-back launches in Buea and Limbe highlight the importance of both state and non-state actors in Cameroon’s health sector. While the government works to build infrastructure and secure vital resources such as oxygen, faith-based institutions like the PCC continue to provide essential health services at the grassroots level.
For many in Buea, Limbe and the wider South West Region, the day’s events brought hope. Parents with newborns, patients with respiratory complications, and families grappling with chronic illnesses stand to benefit directly from the medical oxygen system. At the same time, early screening for kidney disease will give countless Cameroonians a chance at prevention and timely treatment.
