An Essential Part of Doctor Without Borders COVID-19 treatment: Mental Health Support

“We feel strongly that there is indeed a link between the mental health of a person and the COVID-19
infection. What we are witnessing in the isolation unit is that we must start with the patients’ recognition
of COVID-19. A lot of stories are being told in communities which results in people not really accepting the
diagnosis. So, if a person learns that they have tested positive for COVID-19, then there is a lot of denials,
says Dr. Enyoue Eyole, Monono of the Buea Regional Hospital COVID-19 Isolation unit.”

COVID-19 has a significant impact on the mental health of patients who test positive in the Buea Regional
Hospital and other health facilities that are supported in the Southwest Region by Doctors Without
Borders. Patients tend to experience many emotions such as worry, stress, uncertainty, changes in
routines, grief, and even death. In response to these challenges faced by patients, mental health is a key
component of the COVID-19 treatment plan. To facilitate this treatment, Doctors Without Borders has
trained mental health focal points and community volunteers on COVID-19 psychoeducation,
psychological first aid (PFA), and techniques to identify patients with severe mental health problems and
to provide respective referrals to Doctors Without Borders supported facilities.

Suh Wenceslaws Ngwa, son of patient Neba Joseph Suh, tells us the story of his father’s 14-day (about 2
weeks) recovery from COVID-19. “My father is on dialysis. When he became ill, we assumed it was just a
normal crisis, so we rushed him to the hospital. My father tested positive for COVID-19. I tested negative
and my mom tested negative, so that’s how we were transferred here to the Buea Regional Hospital
Isolation unit,” the nurses were very competent and welcoming. When we arrived, they briefed us on
everything about the virus, and my father was counseled by a mental health specialist which allowed him
to be able to accept the diagnosis and facilitated a rapid recovery. The nurses and mental health staff at
Buea Regional Hospital, gave us courage, says Suh.”

In addition to providing mental health support to patients in the isolation unit, the mental health staff is
also providing remote psychological first aid to persons in quarantine at home and their caregivers. The
team contacts each patient to see how they are coping mentally throughout the treatment process. For
families who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, mental health support is also available to them in
order to help them cope with the grief. To curb the spread of the virus, awareness-raising and sensitization
on COVID -19 sessions are facilitated by the mental health department in inpatient waiting areas where
patients are encouraged on ways to avoid infection and how to cope with covid-19. Mental health
support goes a long way in helping patients cope with the virus and adjust their lifestyles within the period
they will be isolated.

“We try to teach patients who test positive for COVID-19 coping mechanisms by situating them in past
situations and identifying how they managed to cope with difficult situations in the past. For those who
love singing, we encourage them to sing or listen to music, for those who love reading we tell them to read”
Mbalang Evon Nange, Mental Health counselor.

“It’s fulfilling when you call these patients and at the end, they tell you they feel relieved and we feel
satisfied too” Ewane Theophile, Mental Health Counselor.

Doctors Without Borders has provided COVID-19 support to the Buea Regional Hospital since 2020 to curb
the spread of the virus. Since the second week of March 2021, the Southwest Region of Cameroon has
been experiencing the 2nd wave of COVID-19, with 194 identified cases within a five-week period. In
response to the increase of COVID-19 positive cases, Doctors Without Borders has constructed a
semipermanent structure for COVID-19 testing, provided donations of a Treatment Center, provided
medication & medical supplies for inpatient and outpatients, donated Household Hygiene Kits which
included supplies such as buckets, detergent, and face mask for the COVID-19 affected households. From
September to October 2021, Doctors Without Borders Mental Health team staff has provided mental
health care to 282 patients and tested 1,301 persons for COVID-19. There have been, 221 positive cases,
with 85 hospitalizations, and 175 patients in the home-based care system and 39 patients were referred.

From other health facilities in the Region. Out of the 85 patients hospitalized 29 admitted have
unfortunately died. While the world is still struggling to contain the virus, it is advisable to respect barrier
measures like washing of hands, wearing of face mask and avoiding overcrowded places. Early symptoms
should be reported to the closest health facility in order to contain the spread.

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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been present in Cameroon since 1984. Today, the NGO conducts
humanitarian medical projects in the Far North and South West regions of the country. The organization
is also continuing discussions with the authorities to resume activities in the northwest, after
withdrawing its teams following a suspension decided by the authorities in December 2020.In the Far
North, where MSF has been working since 2012, our teams support the Cameroonian health system to
facilitate access to medical services, providing care such as surgical, psychological, obstetric, and
maternal care. MSF works in each of these regions according to the health needs assessment of the
community. All care provided by Médecins Sans Frontières is free of charge and carried out in
accordance with medical ethics. In addition, the teams are continuing awareness-raising sessions on
safety measures against the Covid-19 pandemic among populations on temporary sites in order to limit
the risk of spreading the disease.