BIHS graduates Pioneer Batch of MPH Students
The CBC Health Services has continued to set the pace for quality healthcare provision in Cameroon as a non-governmental organization in terms of service provision and training of specialist personnel to sustain the system. For the first time, the Baptist Institute of Health Sciences (BIHS) in Mbingo Baptist Hospital (MBH) graduated three students from the Masters of Public Health (MBH) program including: Mr. Mbuli Cyrille Ndamsa, Dr. Ngock Farra Fola George (a pediatric surgeon), and Dr. Acha Evaristus Tikum (ENT surgeon).
The solemn graduation ceremony marked by pomp and circumstance held on November 22, 2024 in Mbingo alongside the traditional graduation of surgeons who completed five years of training from the Pan Africa Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) and internists who went through four years from the Christian Internal Medicine Specialization (CIMS) programs. This time, 6 surgeons graduated from PAACS and 6 internists from CIMS, giving a total of 12 graduates that passed out from BIHS Mbingo this year.
The trainings of these specialists held under very challenging circumstances given the armed conflict rocking the two English speaking regions since 2017. The graduates as well as the officials that took to the rostrum praised God for leading them through the difficult security context.
Addressing the graduation of specialists in Mbingo for the first time although via zoom call, Mr. Ngum Samuel, Director of Health Services (DHS) who was held back by other pressing duties, congratulated the graduates for braving through the tedious training. He commissioned them to be Christ centered and be the light in the medical field that is being eroded by diminishing and mediocre practice. The same admonition came from the Belo Field Pastor who sat in for the CBC Executive President.
In his commencement address, Dr. James Brown, former PAACS Director called on the 12 graduates from the PAACS, CIMS and MPH programs to be advocates for the patients, remember the poor as Jesus did and beware of entitlement because it kills your joy. “Success has its dangers,” Dr. Brown warned.
On his part, the CIMS Director, Dr. Sunday David in a charge, left the graduates with these words, “Don’t let your successes get into your head, don’t let your failures define you”. The distinguished young CIMS Director cautioned his graduating junior colleagues to understand that skills alone cannot make them the best doctors. He charged them to be compassionate and give hope to the sick just as Jesus did. “Let your hands be instrument of healing and your heart be instrument of compassion,” he instructed.
The over 30 specialist doctors including graduates and faculty members in one place and at the same time speaks volumes of the value and worth of the training programs of the Baptist Institute of Health Sciences in Mbingo Baptist Hospital. For instance, graduate surgeons from PAACS are doing well in more than ten African countries, all CBC major hospitals today have specialist internists and surgeons from CIMS and PAACS and the current Directors of the two flagship programs are products of the same programs, Dr. Sunday David for CIMS and Dr. Sama Akanyun for PAACS.
