The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBC HS) has inaugurated its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Training Centre of Excellence in Ombe,
South West Region. The ceremony on January 25, 2025, was presided over by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Chief Foreke Asongtia Valentine, alongside key stakeholders including the Directors of the Liliane and AFAS Foundations, major funders of the project, and the CBC Executive President, who dedicated the facility to God.
Representing the Minister of Social Affairs, Madam Pauline Irene Nguene, Chief Foreke Asongtia conveyed the Minister’s gratitude to the CBC for constructing this magnificent facility. “This training center for rehabilitation personnel aligns perfectly with the government’s policy of inclusion, recognizing the importance of empowering persons with disabilities,” Chief Foreke stated. The Minister’s envoy recognized the need for high-quality training to address the challenges faced by people with disabilities effectively. It is for this reason that the Ministry validated the training curriculum to ensure the program’s effectiveness, and even witnessed the graduation of the first batch of trainees, demonstrating the Minister’s strong support for this vital initiative.
This cutting-edge facility, born from a decade-long partnership between CBC Health Services and the esteemed Dutch foundations, Liliane Foundation and AFAS Foundation, marks a pivotal moment in addressing the critical shortage of qualified rehabilitation professionals in the nation. “This is a significant milestone for the CBC HS and a crucial step towards achieving the 2030 rehabilitation agenda,” stated Rev. Dr. Teke John, Executive President of the CBC. “The RTCE will train a new generation of rehabilitation professionals, providing hope and improving the lives of countless individuals with disabilities,” the CBC chief executive officer posited.
Recognizing the profound impact of this partnership, Erik Ackerman, Director of Liliane Foundation, expressed his pride in supporting this transformative project. “This center will not only serve Cameroon but also inspire best practices in rehabilitation training across the African continent”. “And now we are here. The centre of excellence is no longer a dream. It has become a reality. The students are no longer a dream, you are here. The lecturers are no longer a dream, you are all here. Everyone who is needed is here.” Those are the last words of Erik Ackerman in an exciting speech during the ceremony highlighting the journey that led to the realization of the gigantic project now called the Rehabilitation Training Centre of Excellence.
Gerben Eversdijk, Director of AFAS Foundation stressed that their organizations strive for the inclusion of children with disabilities worldwide so supporting the training of competent physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and Community-based rehabilitation workers is important for them given that via this, they can help many more children with disabilities and enhance their impact. To them, it is important to have this centre in order to create the next generation of very skilled professionals that can support hundreds of thousands of children in Cameroon. Gerben noted that the work that has been achieved is commendable, a tremendous achievement carried out by the CBC HS and they are all proud to be part.
Quizzed on the way forward after the realization of the project, the Director of AFAS Foundation said that the centre still has some years to reach its full potential with a couple of challenges yet to overcome such as having affordable tuition fees and ensuring the availability of scholarships, there is hope to continuously work on the quality of the program through continuous efforts. “We will definitely be working with the CBCHS in the coming years to see the centre flourish and even expand,” he clinched emphasizing their commitment to the inclusion of children with disabilities worldwide.
Prof. Tih Pius Muffih, Supervisor of Projects in the CBC, for his part, emphasized the 10-year partnership between the CBC Health Services and the Liliane Foundation. He acknowledged their crucial role in funding the Rehabilitation Training Centre of Excellence, an initiative that began in 2016. Through this partnership, the CBC has provided financial and technical assistance to over 20 community-based partner organizations, benefiting more than 3,000 children with impairments annually. These organizations focus on identifying and supporting children with various impairments by ensuring enabling environments, advocacy, sensitization, infrastructural adjustments, and resource mobilization.
Prof. Tih Pius also stressed on critical gaps in the current rehabilitation training landscape in Cameroon, including no formal training in Community-Based Rehabilitation, no formal training in Occupational Therapy, limited and low-quality training in Physiotherapy and no training in Speech and Language Therapy or other key rehabilitation fields. He announced that the RTCE intends to close these gaps.
The Director of the CBC Health Services, Mr. Ngum Samuel throughout the celebration expressed his gratitude to the funders for their tremendous financial and technical support that brought the vision to life. The support, according to him, is not limited to constructing the facility but spans to touch the lives of people in our communities bringing hope to thousands of children with varied disabilities.
It is important to note that rehabilitation and socio-economic insertion of persons with disability in the CBCHS are embedded in its core values since its inception with the first leprosy hospital today called Mbingo Baptist Hospital. It is for this reason that Mr. Ngum Samuel reiterated the institution’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence in training rehabilitation professionals. He accentuated that this investment will benefit not only Cameroon but also the broader Sub-Saharan African region.
The inauguration marks a significant milestone for Tiko Municipality, according to 2nd Deputy Mayor, Madam Ngomba Ayibe Elmina. She expressed gratitude to the CBC for choosing the community to host this pioneering institution, which will play a crucial role in training rehabilitation professionals and advancing Cameroon’s 2030 rehabilitation agenda.
The RTCE is designed to provide comprehensive training in critical areas such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy disciplines that have long faced a dearth of qualified professionals in Cameroon. This initiative aligns perfectly with the nation’s commitment to the 2030 rehabilitation agenda, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.
The ceremony was a touching occasion filled with gratitude and appreciation. Key figures, including Prof. Tih Pius Muffih, a visionary advocate for the project, Mrs. Agho Glory and her dedicated EDID program team, Mr. Otto Weyers, the Chief Architect, and Marko Filipović from AFAS Foundation, were acknowledged for their invaluable contributions.
As the RTCE opens its doors, a new era of rehabilitation in Cameroon dawns. This center of excellence stands as a symbol of hope, a testament to the power of collaboration, and a beacon of progress in the nation’s journey towards a more inclusive, equitable future for all, and a commitment of CBC HS to providing quality healthcare and improving the lives of people with disabilities in Cameroon.
