Stakeholders brainstorm on need to improve primary health care service delivery in Cameroon

Poor access to potable water, lack of constant electricity supply, poor state of toilets, lack of advanced medical equipment, and shortage of health personnel are some of the challenges faced by most Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in grassroots communities in Cameroon.

These were some of the key findings presented during the launch of the Health Sector Accountability Report by a civic-led organization Actions for Development and Empowerment, ADE yesterday January 25th in Yaounde.

The meeting which brought together government authorities, civil society organizations, and the media was to present the key findings carried out in some primary health care centers in 6 grassroots communities in 5 regions of Cameroon namely North West, Center, East, South, and Far north regions and to present the recommendations for better investment as well as strengthen accountability in health care centers in Cameroon.

According to the founder of ADE, Ndi Nancy Saiboh, some of the major challenges in these PHC centers cut across all the regions visited. She urges the government to put in place measures to improve on the quality of health care service delivery in health centers in all grassroots communities.
“Some of the irregularities we noticed during the town hall meetings cut across all of the PHC centers. Personnel not been present during their work hours and we are wondering why they are not functioning the way they were to function. There are actually laws and regulations that permit PHC centers to have all basic equipment to function,” she says.

According to Bennen Buma Gana, a journalist at the country’s national media house, who was one of the panelists, the media has a great role to play in ensuring that key findings presented are being channeled to the authorities concerned for a better approach to health care service delivery in PHC centers in Cameroon. He also outlined some strategies which can be used to boost communication with the recommendations stated.
“ I think the community should be able to boost their health centers. The councils should be able to give support to local health centers when needed, a toll-free number should also be made available in other to report some irregularities..,” he explained.

Some of the recommendations that the report outlined involved a collective effort by the government, civil societies, and media. The government has a role to play in boosting service delivery, as well as ensuring workers of these centers are held accountable.
The civil society’s and media roles are to inform and educate the population on the importance of community contribution to health.