Korea to construct Garoua Hospital worth FCFA 42.4 billion

The Government of the Republic of Korea has signed an agreement with the Government of Cameroon to construct and equip the Garoua Referral Hospital in the North Region, estimated at FCFA 42.49 billion.

Of this amount, the Government of Cameroon is expected to contribute FCFA 13.76 billion representing 32 percent of the entire cost, while Korea will provide FCFA 28.7 through the Korean Exim Bank for Economic Development Cooperation Funds, EDCF, representing 68 percent of the total cost of the project.

The loan agreement was signed in Yaounde on December 23 for Cameroon by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and for Korea by its Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Lim Jae-Hoon. Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, and the Secretary of State in that Ministry, Alim Hayatou, were also present.

Speaking at the occasion, H.E Lim remarked that the event was another opportunity for the improvement and reinforcement of the friendly relations between the two countries.

“By taking the engagement to construct the Garoua Referral Hospital, the Republic of Korea has, once more, demonstrated its firm commitment to support Cameroon in improving public health which is a vital ingredient in achieving a sustainable socio-economic development,” he stated.

He mentioned the recent construction and equipping of the Yaounde Emergency Centre by his Government, remarking that they were not indifferent to the preventive measures aimed at stemming the Ebola virus. Lim revealed that it was since October 2013 that the two countries engaged talks and in a consensual manner, envisaged the signing of an agreement for the construction of the Garoua Referral Hospital.

Lim recalled that on July 15, 2013, the Government of Korea and the Government of Cameroon signed a framework agreement on aid between the two states and on December 24, of the same year, an agreement relating to promotion and protection of investments by the two countries was also signed.

According to Lim, this legal framework, amongst others, is contributing in strengthening cooperation ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Nganou Djoumessi extended gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea, remarking that the agreement is one of the tools strengthening the ties between the two countries. He recalled that the ties between Cameroon and Korea date back to 1977 when the Global Economic and Trade Cooperation was signed between the two countries.

The cooperation was, however, slowed down following the closure of the embassy in 1998 and became revamped in October 2008 when the Korean diplomatic mission was re-opened. The Minister said one major, project, thanks to the ties, is the ongoing construction of vocational training centres by the Korean Government in Sangmelima, Douala and Limbe.

A vocational school for the training of trainers for the centres is previewed in Yaounde.

Nganou held that the signing of the loan agreement was the logical beginning of the implementation of the construction of the Garoua Referral Hospital project. Stating that the project falls within the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper, he said, in addition to constructing and equipping the structure. Health personnel will also benefit from training offered by the Korean Government.

According to technical documents given to the press, on the project, the hospital which will serve the North, Adamawa and Far North Regions, will have a capacity of 292 beds.

In addition to medical equipment to be provided by the Korean Government; they are expected to designate a consultant; provide an architectural plan of the hospital including the construction of residences for the personnel; bring in Korean experts; train Cameroonian officials and health personnel in Korea; and so on.

Cameroon, on its part, is required to put in place the project team and appoint the officials; provide a site, water and electricity for the project; pay taxes and remove equipment from the port; ensure security of the partners; and so on.