Maternal and Child Health, a major priority for Ndu Baptist Health Center
After the construction and inauguration last year of an ultramodern theater to cater mainly for pregnant women needing cesarean section and other surgeries, focus is now on Maternal and Child Health to completely eradicate mortality during child birth at Ndu Baptist Health Center that is quickly being transformed into a full-ledged hospital.
An elite couple of Ndu extraction based in the USA, Drs. Odilia and husband, Elias Bongmba together with some of their friends and partners via the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA USA, have raised close to 100.000USD (over 50 million FCFA) to fund the MCH block of Ndu Baptist Health Center. This same couple, Drs. Odilia and Elias Bongmba led in raising funds for the theater and surgical ward block of Ndu Baptist Health Center, which is now being used to near capacity. At the time of this report, 9 out of the 12 beds in the surgical ward were occupied.
The ground breaking exercise to construct the maternity block took place at the site on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 led by Prof. Tih Pius Muffih, Director of CBC Heal Services. The Director was thrilled by the goodwill of the donors, especially towards children and women. Prof Tih welcomed the dignitaries that turned up to witness the landmark ground breaking event.
The Ndu Council was represented by the Second and Fourth Deputy Mayors. Speaking on behalf of the municipality, the Second Deputy said the magnitude of the event warranted two of them to come, especially as the Fourth Deputy was a female who relates better with the maternity. The Deputy Mayor thanked the CBC Health Services for bringing beautiful projects to Ndu and like Oliver Twist, he requested for more specialized services to come after the theatre and maternity services.
Speaking via zoom, the lead donor, Dr. Odilia Bongmba said, “There is nothing as beautiful as working together” – referring to their working relationship with the CBC Health Services. Explaining why they chose a maternity block over other services, Dr. Odilia remarked that “Success in life begins at birth”. She extended much appreciation to Prof. Tih, her donor friends and WICUDA, each for their role in realizing the funds. She noted that the ball is now in the court of the CBC Health Services to execute the project and to accelerate the process of raising Ndu Baptist Health Center to a full hospital.
Speaking earlier on, the Assistant Administrator of Ndu Baptist Health Center, Mr. Nfor Gamngong Emmanuel welcomed everyone to the Ground Breaking event. In like manner, he thanked the donors for such wonderful show of love to the people of Ndu. As head of the institution, the Assistant Administrator pledged to diligently follow-up the execution of the construction works on the maternity block.
In a sperate chat with the press to paint a picture of the current maternity and the need for a new structure, the unit head, Lapluh Vera, midwife said, in terms of staffing and services, the maternity is up-to-date but very lack in infrastructure and some basic equipment. She revealed hone COMCHA and registers an average of 20 deliveries per month. Yet, these high points are somehow watered down by the numerous challenges. The maternity needs an incubator, a radiant warmer in the theater foetus therapy machine, an electronic scale, baby cots in the ward, a standby concentrator and a family planning unit separate from the maternity.
From this background, Ms Lapluh Vera noted that the new maternity block was a welcome relief to better cater for their clients, reduce infection with more working space and boost clients’ attendance.
The General Supervisor of the Technical Services Department, Mr. Abraham Chiambah Bujoff presented a pictorial view of the new maternity block to the satisfaction of all. The new structures provided answers to the challenges raised by the current situation.
