“CBC Chose Us” – U.S Ambassador to Cameroon
H.E Christopher John Lamora, U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon has set the records straight in the working relationship and partnership between the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services and the Government of the United States of America (USA). The Ambassador corrected the humbling position taken by the CBC to overly thank the US Government funding through the President’s Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to restate that rather, “CBC chose us” [US Government].
H.E Christopher Lomora was responding at the reception during his visit to Nkwen Baptist Hospital in Bamenda, Wednesday, January 24, 2024. According to the US Ambassador, the CBC Health Services merited her place to gain the favour of the US Government, owing to the CBC Health Services’ grassroots policy of providing healthcare to all, especially in the domain of HIV.
The U.S Ambassador congratulated the CBC Health Services for also winning the bid for the Cameroon Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (CAMPHIA), whose results will further inform stakeholders, especially Governments on the exact situation of HIV in Cameroon. “It is our privilege to work with the CBC Health Services,” Ambassador Christopher Lamora stated.
Speaking to the press, the US Ambassador sounded loud and clear that HIV is still here with us. He called on the citizens of Cameroon to remain vigilant by going for HIV testing, and to stay on treatment if positive.
For his part, CBC Executive President (E.P), Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne congratulated H.E Christopher John Lamora for braving the dusty roads to Bamenda. Rev. Dr. Nditemeh said the CBC Health Services is second only to the Government of Cameroon in healthcare provision, thanks to support from partners like the US Government. The CBC Chief Executive pledged the CBC Health Services’ continuous willingness to working with the US Government.
Welcoming the US Ambassador to the CBC Health Services’ main office in Bamenda, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih, Director of Health Services (DHS) applauded the US Government’s support in the following areas; HIV, Centers for Disease Control laboratory in Mutengene, strengthening of laboratories across CBC Health Services hospitals, fight against COVID-19 and recently the award of the bid for CAMPHIA among others.
Dr. Chiabi Eugene, Technical Adviser of the HIV Free NW presented Nkwen Baptist Hospital’s progress towards achieving UNAIDS 95-95-95 treatment and targets while Nsimen Anna presented PEPFAR’s support to Strengthening the Laboratory site services.
Nkwen Baptist Hospital Administrator, Kangong Joce led the US Ambassador and his team in a tour to the following departments of the hospital: HIV Care and Treatment Center, ANC and laboratory. The Administrator presented the US Ambassador a gift of Northwest traditional regalia and bag as souvenir to remember his visit to Nkwen Baptist Hospital.