Mutengene, Cameroon -The joint accreditation team from the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) has commended the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) for its outstanding contribution to healthcare delivery and surgical training in Cameroon. This recognition was made recently during an ongoing assessment visit to the CBC Health Services at the Mutengene Christian Orthopaedic Residency Program (MCORE) operating in Baptist Hospital Mutengene (BHM).
On the second day of the accreditation exercise, the delegation, led by Dr. Keir Thelander, Executive Vice President of PAACS, met with the Director of Health Services, Mr. Ngum Samuel, for strategic discussions on the institution’s commitment to surgical education and specialist training. The team later toured the CBCHS Health Services Complex, gaining deeper insight into the organization’s administrative structures and healthcare delivery systems.
During the meeting, the Director of Health Services highlighted the CBCHS’ long-standing investment in healthcare delivery, medical education, and human resource development, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to maintaining high standards of clinical excellence and training. He later led the visiting delegation on a comprehensive tour of the Health Services Complex, Mutengene, providing insights into the organization’s administrative structures, healthcare systems, and support services.
The visit forms part of a comprehensive assessment aimed at evaluating the institution’s capacity to maintain and strengthen high-quality surgical training programmes under the standards of both COSECSA and PAACS. According to Dr. Thelander, the exercise focuses on three key areas: the quality of clinical services and infrastructure, the competence and availability of trainers, and the commitment of institutional leadership to making training an integral part of the organization’s mission.
“What we are primarily looking at is the capacity of the facility and the medical care they are providing. Is it adequate to also support training?” Dr. Thelander explained, noting that while PAACS integrates Christian discipleship into its residency programmes, both organizations share a common goal of developing highly competent surgeons for Africa.
Reflecting on the broader impact of CBCHS, Dr. Thelander praised the institution’s extensive healthcare network, describing its contribution to Cameroon as both visible and transformative. He observed that the network of 16 hospitals has significantly expanded access to affordable surgical care for patients who might otherwise struggle to obtain such services.
Beyond patient care, Dr. Thelander highlighted the institution’s growing influence in surgical education, noting that graduates of its training programmes are now serving in several African countries, extending the impact of CBCHS far beyond Cameroon. He also pointed to the enormous research potential within the health service’s network, saying its wide geographical reach and patient population provide valuable opportunities to generate evidence that could shape surgical practice across the continent.
Dr. Thelander concluded by applauding the Cameroon Baptist Convention for nearly eight decades of faithful healthcare ministry, encouraging its leadership and staff to remain committed to the vision that has made the institution one of the country’s leading healthcare providers.
“We see what you’re doing, and it is impactful. You are changing healthcare in this country through the work of the CBC. Keep doing what you’re doing and press on,” Dr. Thelander admonished.
The ongoing accreditation visit reaffirms the shared commitment of COSECSA, PAACS, and the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services to advancing excellence in surgical education, strengthening specialist training, and improving access to quality surgical care in Cameroon and across Africa.
