A series of trainings to build capacities of primary health care nurses organized within the context of the “Strengthening Ear and Hearing Care Capacities in Cameroon Project” of the CBC Health Services has ended in the three implementing regions; Center, Littoral, and Northwest. The goal of the training, which took place in each of the regions, was to increase the pool of Ear and Hearing Care nurses with skills required to identify and treat hearing loss, otitis media, and other ear conditions.
The training ran for 3 days in each region from April 9-2, 2025 as a response to one of the result areas of the project, which is to build the capacity of existing health professionals on ear and hearing care. The trainings were organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoH) that had appointed focal persons in each region before the training. With service notes from MoH to the different health facilities, the focal points had the responsibility to ensure the full participation of health staff from the selected regions. It took place under the supervision of the Delegates of Public Health in each region and the Focal Persons for Ear and Hearing Care at the MoH.
The training in each region had as lead facilitator the Clinical Supervisor of the Project, Dr. Acha Evaristus accompanied by selected facilitators trained as Clinical Officers during the training of trainers in March 2025 and the project coordination team. The training was guided by the World Health Organization’s basic Ear and Hearing Care Resource and Primary Health Care training manuals. For 3 days in each region, the facilitators drilled the participants on the mechanism of hearing loss, the anatomy of the ear, assessing ear and hearing problems, ear diagnosis, treatment, and referrals, and the role of the health workers and doctors in the ear and hearing care amongst others.
The Project Coordinator, Aishatu Kinyuy presented an overview of the project, highlighting the project background, goal, target, expected results and implementing health facilities. The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Tarla Godlove drilled them on the reporting tools and the client registers handed by the project to each facility. He emphasized the importance of collecting quality data at their levels.
The training was characterized by practical sessions and attended by over 80 state-registered nurses from 41 facilities across the three regions who will champion the treatment of ear conditions in their health facilities.
Training in the Center Region
In her welcome address during the training, the Chief of Service in charge of the control of oral diseases, chronic hearing, and visual deficiencies of the Ministry of Public Health (MoH), Dr. Mapa Clarisse underscored that the training is the first of its kind in Cameroon and the MoH attaches a lot of value to it. She noted that there will be challenges given that it’s a pilot but assured them of the support of the MoH in ensuring that they offer quality ear services in the community. Dr Mapa disclosed that the districts represented were carefully selected by MoH to have good coverage of each of the district areas in the region. She commissioned them to work closely with their focal persons assigned by the Delegations of Public Health.
The workshop in the Center region took place on April 9 -11, 2025 at Mvan Resource Center Yaounde and was attended by 29 healthcare nurses from 13 health facilities made up of district hospitals, Presbyterian, and Baptist Hospitals. Ngole Stella from the Presbyterian Health Complex Nsimeyong Yaounde was one of the participants who has been working in the theater for the past 8 years. She attested that even though she has been doing some minor procedures in the theater, the workshop was an eye-opener for her because she realized some mistakes she makes in her procedures. “I have an auto scope in the house but I only learned how to use it correctly in the training. The knowledge I have had here will improve the ear services in our hospital,” Stella expressed. The training in the Center region was co-facilitated by ENT Clinical Officers Amindeeh Celina and Lanchen Caroline.
Training in the Littoral Region
The training in the Littoral took place from April 14-6, 2025 at the Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala chapel with 28 healthcare nurses from 13 health facilities in the region. At the opening of the workshop, the Administrator of Mboppi Baptist Hospital, Mr. Yongwa Zacheus applauded BMZ and CBM for funding the project. He expressed gratitude that the Littoral is one of the implementing regions. He underlined that capacity building is important in upgrading the skills of the health staff to improve comprehensive healthcare for clients. The Administrator urged trainees to work towards the realization of the project target. The workshop was facilitated by Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Clinical Officers, Ndaleh Peter and Fombum Rudolf.
Chick Roger from District Hospital Loum rated her knowledge acquired at 90% from 30%. “From the workshop, we have learned a new way of ear care which is different from the traditional ways that we are using in the hospital” Chick disclosed. He promised to train other colleagues in his health facility.
Closing the workshop in the Littoral, the Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Ngo’o Saurel noted that ear conditions are public health concerns that require human resources to address them. He appreciated the organizers and the trainers for imparting knowledge to the nurses.
Training in the Northwest Region
A total of 24 state registered nurses from 11 health facilities now have the responsibility to ensure access to ear services in their health facilities in the NW region. The Hearing Aids Audiologist, Kumka Adella and ENT Officer, Chin Virginia drilled the participants on how to handle the various ear conditions. At the end of the training, participants testified that their knowledge will improve on their services. Sali Beatrice Deh from Nkambe Regional Hospital Annex articulated that they do not have an ENT department in the hospital. “The knowledge I have acquired from the training will help the community of Nkambe because I can now identify, diagnose, treat, refer, and rehabilitate ear conditions,” she noted.
At the close of the training in the NW region, the Director of CBC Health Services, Mr Ngum Samuel implored all the nurses who have been trained to be transformational and not transactional health care providers. He called on them to be advocates of the project and offer the necessary care needed by clients with ear conditions in their facilities.
The NW Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Ambe Lionel Neba praised the CBC Health Services, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Christian Blind Mission (CBM) for conceiving, developing, and funding such an important project in the region. He challenged the nurses to put the skills into use by transferring the knowledge to their colleagues and be able to identify ear conditions, treat and refer those they cannot manage to ENT specialists in the region. Dr. Ambe emphasized that through the focal person for the Northwest region, he will monitor the nurses to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the clients in their health facilities. The workshop took place from April 22-24, 2025.
In an interview with Dr. Acha at the end of the trainings, he stated that there is a gap in the health care system, which is the lack of knowledge on basic ear care and the training is intended to close that gap. He expects that the health facilities will start or intensify ear care by putting the knowledge acquired into practice. They are also expected to raise awareness in their communities to ensure access to the services.
Since the start of the project, a total of 103 primary health nurses and clinical officers have been trained. The training which is one of the major activities of the project has set the pace for clinical activities to begin given that the nurses are going back to intentionally commence or intensify ear care services in their health facilities. Hopes are thus high that the project team will meet its target of 112,500 by the end of the project phase in 2028.