2018 Graduation in Pictures
A Mission statement defines the primary objective of an organization; the business, products or services, and customers. It provides detailed information about what the organization does, how it does, and who it does it for. So indeed, it helps focus the Organization on what really matters - to itself as well as to its stakeholders. Whereas, the Vision statement focuses on its goals and aspirations, which describes how the future will look if the organization achieves its mission. The mission and vision of any veritable organization should be timeless.
The vision and mission statements provide a focal point that helps to align everyone with the organization, thus ensuring that everyone is working towards a single purpose. This helps to increase efficiency and productivity in the organization. (From Blog Article by Colour Infusion, Cochrane AB - https://colourinfusion.ca)
Not having clear mission and vision statements would be like going on a journey without knowing the direction you are to follow or the destination.
The CBC Health Services is a Nonprofit, Faith-based, Humanitarian and Inclusive healthcare Organization that addresses both clinical, social, and public health problems affecting individuals and communities in Cameroon in particular and Africa at large. It is one of the departments of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC). CBC founded in 1954 is a living fellowship of churches growing in grace, strengthening one another in faith and working together in obedience to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through worship, preaching, teaching, healing and social ministries. (www.cbc-cm.org).
The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Service (CBCHS) has as mission to provide care to all who need it as an expression of Christian love and as a means of witness in order that, they might be brought to God through Jesus Christ. Thus, the CBCHB shall provide exemplary Health care with genuine compassion and with overriding purpose of evangelical witness. This is drawn from Matthew 9:35-36. Her vision is, “Quality care to all”.
The CBCHS since its establishment has been operating in Cameroon striving to further her mission and by no means deviating from it. They strive to PROVIDE CARE TO ALL WHO NEED IT AS AN EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN LOVE AND AS A MEANS OF WITNESS. If you go through the Scripture, Jesus ministered to all – those with leprosy, the prostitutes - I mean all who were rejected in the society; even those who hated Him. He had a goal in mind, His goal was the salvation of mankind. As the arm of the church, the CBC Health Services seeks to provide Care to all who need it as an expression of this Christian love and equally as a means of evangelical witness. Jesus fully aware that Judas Iscariot would later betray Him did not disown him but ministered to him as well.
The CBCHS has stood the test of time even in the current crisis situation; She has never deviated from providing care to all who need it. She has been seen in hard-to-reach areas. This is because, she developed a clear sense of her values even before the crisis. CBC Health Services' mission statement indicates a clear concern regarding a commitment to "quality and maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in its dealings with all stakeholders”.
We equally praise God for the transformational leaders in the CBC Health Services who inspire, energize, and intellectually stimulate and stir employees to look beyond their own self-interest for the benefit of individual work groups and the organization as a whole.
The CBC Health Services has used her mission statement as a constant guide for her actions. She is out to satisfy customers’ needs. The mission of the CBCHS is clear: equality ("the proposition that all men are created equal and in the image of God")
Persevering through tragedy is not easy. The CBCHS has not let her shortcomings to keep her from her work. Staying true to her mission and vision has kept her in focus to learn from any challenges and sailing through when and where many are failing!!!
These were the words of Mr. Nji Richard Nkeh, Senior Administrator of Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) during the celebration on June 14, 2024 in the hospital chapel.
The day was celebrated under the theme, "Honouring the heroes of life" with the slogan, "Give blood, give life".
Mr. Genesis Wirba, President of the GSBDA, in his speech urged everyone to join the ban wagon of life savers. "If you cannot donate due to health conditions or age, you can support us financially. most of our members live far away from here, they need transport and food as they perform this humanitarian act. Think of a pregnant woman who gives birth at the maternity and is bleeding profusely; think of someone who is undergoing a surgical procedure at the theatre and loose so much blood. With these scenarios, if blood is not readily available at the bank, lives will be lost. The blood that these people need is not sold in the market, it's in you. please join us let's save life's," Genesis narrated.
Dr. Jam Divine, the CMO for BBH in his greetings qualified the blood donors as the pillar of the institution. "Each time I look at you as active blood donors, am tempted to say you are the pillar that holds the life of this hospital. God who is the pillar that holds our lives and BBH has been using you mightily to fulfill the mission and vision of the CBCHS, providing exemplary care to all who need it. I urge you to continue saving lives through your dedication and commitment by donating your blood regularly,” the CMO commended.
In his closing statement, the Administrator acknowledged all blood donors and especially those who are non staff of the CBCHS declaring them as veritable partners in health care delivery. "Those of you who are not staff of the CBCHS, you are our veritable partners, thank you for availing yourselves to be used by God to serve lives especially at this very difficult moment. Your humanitarian action serves as the best gift to give someone, you are life savers and life givers. May God richly bless you as you continue with your voluntary services to humankind.
Some donors were honored with certificates for donating their blood severally on voluntary basis.
Last month, from February 21 to 23, some ten surgeons from six regions of the country were trained on better clubfoot surgical procedures at the Baptist Hospital in Mutengene, Southwest region, Cameroon.
The program is an initiative supported by Hope and Healing International in partnership with the CBC Health Services through the Clubfoot Program in Cameroon, a project funded by Hope and Healing in six regions across the territory.
Dr. Henry Ndasi, lead trainer and Head of the Orthopedic Unit at Baptist Hospital Mutengene during the training said the training of the doctors is “to create more treatment centers in the country that will treat the increasing number of children with clubfoot”.
“Many children and their caregivers often travel long distances from the North and the West Regions to come and receive surgeries here in Mutengene. This sometimes hamper effective follow-ups and healing of the children,” he noted.
For the past three years, Hope and Healing International has been supporting the treatment of children with clubfoot and other musculoskeletal deformities such as knocked knees and bowed legs in the Northwest and West regions of the country, and over 200 children have already benefitted from this gesture.
This year, the project has expanded to six regions of the country namely: Adamawa, West, Northwest, Southwest, Centre, and Littoral. The expanded initiative is said to focus on treating 130 clubfoot cases for children between 0-4 years old, within six months, running from January to June 2024.
“The training of the surgeons is coming to expand and improve access to clubfoot surgical services in the country,” said Tamon James, Coordinator of The Clubfoot Program in Cameroon. “The 130 children target is to add to the about 100 children already treated for Clubfoot deformity from July last year till present, and we want to make sure the children get quality treatment,” he said.
During the training session, the surgeons were drilled on treatment techniques such as Tendon Transfer, The Ponseti technique, Casting, and other surgical and corrective procedures for treating clubfoot.
It takes six months to two years to have complete healing for clubfoot after surgeries, and surgeons say every procedure from surgery to follow-up is very vital to achieve a corrected foot.
“Dr. Bououe Horline, Orthopedic Surgeon at the Limbe Regional Hospital, Southwest Cameroon, and a trainee in the program said the techniques they have learned will make work easier and more efficient. “I am so excited because my surgical procedures will be different and more efficient onward,” she said.
“I have learned an easier and more effective way to handle tendon transfer, which is very crucial during surgery. We thank the CBC Health Services and Hope and Healing International for this kind gesture,” she told us with a bright smile.
These participants, from June 19-21, 2024, acquired the skills to handle Gender-Based Violence, GBV, cases in the villages and to screen for and manage important parameters like blood sugar, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index, BMI, which will go a long way to prevent Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, like diabetes and hypertension.
Having witnessed many cases of Gender-Based Violence and not knowing how to fully report these, the Village Health Workers were drilled on how to identify and manage such cases, which some did not know could be classified as GBV. They also received expansive knowledge that will contribute to curbing the violence on vulnerable people (especially women and children) in the communities who find it challenging to get readily available help which comes easily to those in the urban areas, and to live healthy lives.
According to Mr. Takwe Boniface, NCDs Program Coordinator for the CBC Health Services, the lifestyles of those in the villages have gradually changed from living on natural elements to mimicking the lifestyles of city dwellers by eating junk and consuming unhealthy food and drinks. This attempt to live seemingly better lives like those in urban areas has brought about an increase in Cancer, Hypertension, and Diabetes in remote communities. In agreement with the NCDs Program Manager, Mme Nsono Josephine, Gender and Child Protection Supervisor of the CBC Health Services noted that there is a significant amount of GBV cases in the villages, which mostly go unreported because the people are either not aware of the concept or the Village Health Workers were not fully informed on how to diagnose them, thus the pertinence of the training.
Mme Angeline from Babanki is a promoter who shared her excitement about her learnings on GBV and NCDs. “This training will help me to properly assist my community, and be better at my job, so I intend to sensitize the people using their churches, quarters heads, njangi groups and I will encourage them to come to the facilities. I have also learned how to report back and refer cases which we cannot handle,” she chimed.
“There are cases of violence especially for the female gender and community workers need the knowledge and skill to be able to handle these conditions and refer to appropriate quarters because victims die in silence in the villages. They should be able to give first aid before being able to refer. For NCDs, they need to know about Know Your Numbers, KYN, a term describing a biometric health screening that provides an overview of a person’s current health, measuring parameters like blood sugar, etc” added Mr Njini George, LAP Program Administrator for the CBC Health Services.
The Director of Health Services, Mr Ngum Samuel, welcomed the participants and appreciated their efforts to provide quality care in their communities. He reminded all that the CBC Health Services began its work with vulnerable people with the leprosy center in Mbingo, therefore showing the importance of reaching out to and providing quality services to the vulnerable in far-off communities. He also emphasized Health System Strengthening, as this will drive the need for capacity building. Recalling the participants to servant leadership, he told them, “When people come to you, they should be excited about returning the next day because you are a source of encouragement to them in your small community”.
These participants will serve as focal persons in their communities which are Tumubuoh in Small Babanki, Vekovi in Jakiri, Chamkfuvene under Noni, Dumbu in Misaje, Adere in Nwa, Koata in Tibati, Mambioko of Ngambe-Tikar area, and the Esimbi localities.
This was during a one-day workshop on identification and referrals of fistula cases that took place at the Bafoussam Baptist Hospital premises on June 21, 2024.
The workshop was organised by the CBC Health Services Obstetric Fistula Project to educate the community workers on obstetric fistula and the strategies to raise awareness and identify fistula cases in the communities.
Speaking before opening the workshop, the West Regional Delegate of Health, Dr. Chimoun Dauda told the participants that they have a moral obligation to take care of women with fistula and to ensure their treatment. He explained that someone with a different disease can freely go to the hospital for consultation but women with fistula find it difficult to freely access health care due to the bad odor resulting from the continuous urine or stool leakage.
The West Public Health boss thanked the CBC Health Services for not only taking the initiative to treat women with obstetric fistula but doing so free of charge. He said such an initiative will be a great encouragement to these women most of who are unable to afford for treatment.
During the training, the participants received knowledge on the causes, impact, and prevention of fistula by the CBC Health Services Focal Point for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Njodzeven Divine who told them that obstetric is caused by prolonged and obstructed labour without timely obstetric care. He encouraged them to prevent obstetric fistula by working hard to stop the factors that delay pregnant women from accessing obstetric care early.
For his part the Sexual and Reproductive Health Focal Point at the West Regional Delegation of Health, Mr. Wado Etienne presenting on the role of the community in ending and identifying Obstetric Fistula told the Community Health Workers that their role is capital crucial in ending and treating obstetric fistula. This role according to Mr. Wado includes awareness raising, partnering with community stakeholders, referring suspected cases for confirmation and treatment and also facilitating their reinsertion into mainstream life. He remarked that if after the workshop women with fistula in their communities still remain untreated then they would have failed in their mission.
The Project Coordinator, Ayenjika Yasmeratu at the start of the workshop, gave an overview of the project during which she said the project aims to provide treatment to at least 60 women with obstetric fistula. She also schooled them on procedures for documenting and reporting cases for treatment.
The participants for their part promised to use knowledge gained to fish out all women with fistula and refer them for diagnosis and treatment. Speaking on their behalf, Njimongni Josue thanked the CBC Health Services for enabling them to acquire knowledge that will enable them to cause women with obstetric fistula in their communities to be identified and treated.
Obstetric fistula is a child birth injury that leaves women incontinent (uncontrollable leaking) of urine and or stool through the vagina. It occurs when a woman or girl goes through a difficult and prolonged labour without timely access to an emergency Caesarean Section (operation).
The CBC Health Services is treating the condition free of charge in Nkwen and Mbingo Baptist Hospitals thanks to support from Fistula Foundation.
The CBC Health Services Obstetric Fistula Project Coordinator, Ayenjika Yasemeratu, received them on Saturday, June 15, 2024. The women came in from different parts of the North West, South West, and West Regions of Cameroon.
Orienting the women on their stay at the Hospital during their treatment, Yasemeratu encouraged them to be courageous and pray for the best outcomes of their surgeries.
She further encouraged the women lodging at the Fistula Village in the hospital, to form a family and be each other’s keepers as they undergo their treatment and recovery process.
During the visit, the Coordinator accompanied by the M&E Officer Febmu Bertrand also introduced the project to the Administration of Mbingo Baptist Hospital and discussed official procedures for the effective reception and treatment of women with fistula in the hospital.
The surgeries will be performed for one week by Dr. Ngock George after which they will be relodged at the fistula village for at least 2 weeks for observation. According to the Coordinator, the objective is for any post-surgery complications that may develop to be handled. She explained that if they go back to their communities and develop complications, some may not be able to return to the hospital because of long distances and the cost of transportation.
The women all expressed their gratitude to the CBC Health Services and its partners for facilitating their treatment which they prayed should be successful so that they should come out of the misery and stigma associated with their condition.
Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent (uncontrollable leaking) of urine and or stool through the vagina.
The treatment centers for the condition within the Obstetric Fistula Project are Mbingo and Nkwen Baptist Hospitals.
The CBC Health Services implements the project with Fistula Foundation funding.