Littoral health districts witness improvements in service delivery

A coordination meeting to evaluate the activities of public health services held in Douala on July 21, 2015.

The Littoral Region, which is made of 24 Health Districts, has witnessed a steady improvement in the quality of health services as well as the activities of different health programmes and projects. The Regional Delegate of Public Health, Martin Yamba Beyas, made the observation during this year’s first regional coordination meeting of public health officials in Douala on July 21, 2015.

According to the Regional Delegate, a well-designed roadmap that sets the objectives every six months is thoroughly respected and at the end, various health districts and programme coordinators meet, analyse activities and strive to turn weaknesses into strengths.

He rejoiced at the fact that since the introduction of coordination meetings every six months, many positive changes have been witnessed, ranging from cleanliness, welcome of patients, research and patient care in hospitals. Similarly, there have been noticeable improvements in various programmes, including the Expanded Programme On Vaccination, EPI, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, among others.

Though there are remarkable improvements in health activities in the region, the Regional Coordinator of the Expanded Programme On Vaccination, Dr Jean Jacques Otti, said the 88 per cent vaccination coverage target is yet to be achieved.

Through the coordination meeting, he expressed hope that suggestions on a change of strategy will raise the actual 72 per cent coverage to 88 per cent. On his part, the Head of Bonassama District Hospital, Dr Balo Jean Richard, intimated that the lack of material and training of personnel were still a problem, while Dr Zam-Ngono Celestin, Director of Cité de Palmiers District Hospital, said they had no major problem concerning preventive and curative diseases.

At the end of the meeting, participants were expected to come up with strategies on ameliorating health care in the Littoral Region. The meeting was attended by Directors of District Hospitals in Wouri, the Directors of the Edea and Nkongsamba Regional Hospitals, Heads of Health Districts, Coordinators of Health Programmes, the President of the National Pharmacy Council and representatives of the Delegation of Public Health.