Goals and Budget Meeting: Leaders told to Ensure Sustainability
In times of crisis, every organization makes adjustments to stay afloat. The escalation of the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon means that organizations involved in healthcare delivery, which is quite complex, have to move with the times – ensuring that they are sustainable.
This is the frame of mind that the CBC Health Services’ leaders had when they met at Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala (MBHD) from November 25-26, 2018, for the goals and budgets committee meeting. They were conscious of the hideous task of setting goals that will help their respective institutions circumvent the raging crisis.
The CBC Director of Health Services (DHS), Prof Tih Pius Muffih, did not hesitate to tell the leaders especially the younger ones to be visionary. In his opening statement, the DHS said, the meeting was holding at an unusual time. “We’ve been going through this crisis and you’ve worked hard to find ways to stay afloat and to continue providing care to the patients,” he commended the leaders.
Leaders of the CBC Health Services, indeed, have had to make real adjustments for which Prof. Tih Pius was grateful. The effective collaboration among the leaders is one key factor that has enabled the organization to continue thriving against the odds.
Understanding the difficulties that our institutions, especially those in the restive English-speaking regions, are going through, Prof. Tih Pius said, “Don’t be discouraged! God isn’t done with us yet.” Prof. Tih praised the staff for being very cooperative; with some of them heeding the call to sometimes leave their families to serve where the need is greater.
On a more optimistic note, the DHS said reports from CBC Health Services’ main institutions showed that all hands are on deck to ensure sustainability. CBC Central Pharmacy, he said, is on its toes to ensure the continuous availability of drugs and medical supplies.
“During this unusual time, we opened Kribi and Bonaberi Baptist Health Centers which are all doing well,” he rejoiced. “The church grows in times of difficulty,” he remarked.
With these words of encouragement, the meeting was off to a good start with the leaders spending two days under the chairmanship of Mr. Warri Denis, Chief of Administration and Finance, to ensure that the goals and budgets are as realistic as possible. If anything, the planning was wisely done with some great ideas and strategies for sprouting and resonating almost equally with all the leaders.
Counsel from the word of God was readily available throughout the meeting that was also graced with singing. The Head Chaplain of Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala, Fanny Njaba, brought a timely message on day two. Preaching from Nehemiah 4:8-9, she told her listeners that in order to overcome obstacles in their leadership they must be: passionate about what keeps them strong, pursue their vision and goals with determination, never fight battles that do not exist and remain accountable to God and man.
Meanwhile, on day one of the meeting, Pastor Bambo Denis, Senior Administrator of the AIDS Care and Prevention Program, talked to the leaders on what he titled: “The cure for anxiety.” Drawing his inspiration from Mathew 6:25-34, Pastor Bambo affirmed that: “Our times are in God’s hands and these are good hands.”
He averred that the cure for anxiety is to know that Jesus lives and because of this fact we can face tomorrow. “Leave everything in God’s hands to make it bitter or sweeter as he pleases,” he exhorted while warning that anxiety dishonours God and brings no favour to us.
Mr. Nfor Daouda, Administrator of Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala, was quite pleased that his hospital was hosting the goals and budget committee meeting for the first time. He assured the other hospitals and health centres in Northwest and Southwest regions of their prayers.
Speaking at the close of the meeting, the Director of Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius encouraged all CBC Health Services’ doctors, dentists and nurses to register with the National Order of Doctors, National Association of Dentists and the National Nursing Association, respectively.
He said all staff must travel with a mission order, carry name tags and national identity cards, be careful with what they do and say, be at home on time and be wise at all times. The goals and budgets were due to be presented to the upcoming Health Board meeting in Bamenda for approval.